New Shin Bet chief David Zini on Wednesday asked the High Court of Justice to reject a petition against his appointment filed by three former heads of the intelligence agency.

Former Shin Bet chiefs Nadav Argaman, Karmi Gilon and Ami Ayalon, along with several NGOS, petitioned the High Court last month against Zini’s appointment, claiming he lacked relevant experience and that he was “messianic” in his religious and political beliefs.

Zini took office in early October after the court rejected requests by the petitioners for an interim order to freeze his appointment.

After he was sworn in, the former agency heads and government watchdog groups argued that Zini’s appointment was flawed due to a conflict of interest owing to the Qatargate and Bild investigations into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close aides, as well as concerns over Zini’s conduct.

In response to the petitions, Zini accused his predecessors of seeking to “police opinions” and undermining Israel’s democracy.

He accused the petitioners of seeking to “wrap up” their accusations “in so-called........

© The Times of Israel