The High Court of Justice on Sunday, in a 2-1 vote, rejected petitions filed against the appointment of David Zini as head of the Shin Bet. Zini entered his role on October 5, with the court having declined the petitioners’ request to freeze his appointment until there was a final ruling on the matter.

Deputy court president Noam Sohlberg, writing for the majority, pointed out that the advisory committee that deliberated on Zini’s appointment had found his candidacy acceptable, and had also reviewed and approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s role in selecting Zini as his candidate.

Supreme Court President Isaac Amit dissented, saying the advisory committee had not satisfactorily examined whether it was appropriate for Netanyahu to nominate a candidate given the ongoing criminal investigations into the premier’s close aides over the Bild and Qatargate scandals.

Justice David Mintz joined Sohlberg in ruling against the petitions.

The petitioners argued that the advisory committee, headed by former Supreme Court president Asher Grunis, did not properly evaluate Zini’s qualifications and........

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