Netanyahu Names Maj. Gen. David Zini as New Domestic Spy Chief

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Thursday named a replacement spy chief to lead Israel’s domestic intelligence service, known as the Shin Bet, after a public clash with the last agency director.

Maj. Gen. David Zini, who “served in many operational and command positions” in the Israeli military, was appointed to lead the Shin Bet, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office. Mr. Netanyahu’s announcement is just the first step in the process, and there are already signs that the path ahead for General Zini may be fraught.

The announcement came after a confrontation with the previous agency director, Ronen Bar, whom Mr. Netanyahu fired in March and who stepped down last month while the dismissal was being considered by Israel’s highest court. On Wednesday, the high court wrote that Mr. Bar’s dismissal had been “tainted with many flaws.”

The court’s ruling also raised questions about potential conflicts of interest given that Mr. Netanyahu had fired Mr. Bar while the Shin Bet was investigating some of the prime minister’s aides in connection with potential impropriety in their dealings with Qatar.

Israel’s attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, on Thursday questioned General Zini’s appointment, according to Israeli news media, saying Mr. Netanyahu had defied legal guidance to hold off on choosing a new Shin Bet chief.

Ms. Baharav-Miara argued to the high court that Mr. Netanyahu had improperly fired Mr. Bar, and the attorney general has said that Mr. Netanyahu cannot proceed with appointing a new Shin Bet chief until questions about the process and conflicts of interest are resolved. In March, the Israeli cabinet began the process of trying to dismiss Ms. Baharav-Miara.