Shin Bet Leak Sparks Political Firestorm Over Power, Oversight, and Democracy
A widening political and intelligence scandal has engulfed Israel’s security establishment, following the arrest of a Shin Bet official accused of leaking classified information to Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli and journalist Amit Segal of Channel 12. The leaked material reportedly concerned a covert investigation into extremist influences in the police and criticism of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar’s role in assessing the security failures ahead of Hamas’ October 7 assault.
The scandal has reignited tensions over media freedom and state surveillance. Segal, a prominent conservative journalist, is alleged to have received the same sensitive information as Chikli. Channel 14’s Yinon Magal was also reportedly questioned in the probe. Far-right ministers and media allies claim the investigation is part of an effort to suppress journalists critical of the security establishment and sympathetic to government positions.
This holiday season, give to:
Truth and understanding
The Media Line's intrepid correspondents are in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan providing first-person reporting.
They all said they cover it.
We see it.
We report with just one agenda: the truth.
Chikli defended the arrested official as a “hero of Israel” who exposed internal misconduct. “Bar wanted to tell us that the political echelon was responsible for strengthening Hamas but forgot to say that he himself had made the reconstruction of Gaza and strengthening its economy a central goal,” Chikli wrote. He accused Bar and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of acting like “Louis XIV,” weaponizing the Shin Bet against elected officials and journalists.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed those concerns, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir warned of a “deep state” targeting him and others.
Opposition leaders called the accusations baseless and dangerous. Yair Lapid and Yair Golan linked the attacks to efforts to derail the Qatargate investigation, which centers on suspected ties between Netanyahu’s associates and foreign funding from Qatar. Golan said, “Netanyahu doesn’t want a Shin Bet that protects Israel—he wants one that protects him.”
The Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee will convene Sunday to address the affair.
