Bardugo Says He Pressed Shin Bet Chief on Channel 12 Leak Probe
Published
Channel 14 commentator Yaakov Bardugo said Friday that he met Shin Bet chief David Zini in the agency chief's office and pressed him about opening a probe into an alleged Channel 12 leak tied to the start of the Iran war. The Shin Bet acknowledged the meeting and said classified-leak investigations are opened only through professional and legal channels, adding that Zini decided a probe was needed before the meeting. Other Israeli reporting says Zini had initially resisted the probe and changed course after political pressure, creating a factual timeline dispute. Opposition and watchdog figures demanded scrutiny of the meeting, while the agency said the purpose of any leak investigation is to close a breach in the security system.
Sources
Difference in reporting
Sources factually disagree on the decision timeline: Walla quotes the Shin Bet saying Zini decided the leak probe was needed long before the Bardugo meeting; Mako reports Zini initially saw no basis for a probe and changed position after pressure including Bardugo's demand. The remaining facts are uniform: Bardugo said he met Zini in the Shin Bet chief's office, discussed an alleged Channel 12 leak tied to the start of the Iran war, the Shin Bet acknowledged the meeting but denied influence, and legal or opposition figures demanded scrutiny.

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