Bezalel Zini, the brother of Shin Bet head David Zini, has emerged as a key suspect in a major case involving the smuggling of goods into the Gaza Strip.
The Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday partially lifted a gag order on certain case details, authorizing the release of Zini’s name. Presiding Judge Yaniv Ben Harush stated the move was required to lift a heavy veil of suspicion. Zini, a reserve soldier, is suspected of abusing his official status to orchestrate the smuggling of banned items from Israel into the enclave, with the total value estimated in the hundreds of thousands of shekels. He is among more than ten people detained in connection with the case.
Israeli police say the investigation has concluded and the evidence has been forwarded to the state prosecutor’s office. Zini is suspected of helping transport cigarettes into Gaza. He and 15 other suspects are likely to be charged in the coming days. Notably, the charges include a grave allegation of assisting an enemy during wartime, which was added to the slate of pending charges after the case was handed to prosecutors.
The allegations against Bezalel Zini, the Shin Bet chief’s brother, extends far beyond routine smuggling. The wartime charge of aiding the enemy implicates core national security concerns and threatens to tarnish the credibility of Israel’s entire security establishment. If Zini’s guilt is proven, it would deal a severe blow to public trust in the country’s security institutions.