The General Security Service monitored the settlement activity of government ministries in Judea and Samaria.
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The Shin Bet report reviewed the activities of the settlement ministries and the settlement administration in the Ministry of Defense to expand the area of state lands, to regulate settlement, and to thicken the farm system in Judea and Samaria, as well as the Palestinian Authority's counter-effort to stop it.
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In an appeal that Settlement Minister Orit Struck sent to Shin Bet head David Zini, and which reached Ariel Kahane of Hayom, Struck says that she was first exposed to the report more than two months ago, when it was transmitted through official and secret channels to the ministers of the political-security cabinet.
Later, she was amazed to hear a journalist read her quotes from the report.
Following this, Struck asks Zini in her appeal: "Who initiated the report, and for what purpose? Who decided that the Shin Bet should monitor the activities of government ministries, analyze them, and report on them? Why does the Shin Bet, instead of 'analyzing' and criticizing the activities of the Settlement Administration and warning against them, not act alongside it, make the information it has available to it, and help thwart the PA's hostile project to take over state lands in Judea and Samaria?""
Struck adds that the report included political comments and "left-wing-view-oriented statements. Who wrote the report in such a left-wing and unprofessional manner?" she asks.
The settlement minister also writes that the 10-page document "was very unprofessional." She also wonders why a document that was classified as "secret" by cabinet ministers was leaked to the media.
It should be noted that the surveillance of Smotrich and Struck's offices was carried out even though the Shin Bet is not supposed to monitor the activities of government ministries, but rather of elements hostile to the state.
Shin Bet's response to 'Today': "We do not comment on the ongoing dialogue with the political echelon and Egypt about leaks to the media. Shin Bet operates within the framework of its designation and duties according to law, and does not monitor the activities of government ministries.".
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote on the X network: "Ronen Bar corrupted his position and exploited the capabilities of the Shin Bet for purposes that endangered Israeli democracy. Perhaps if Ronen Bar, as head of the Shin Bet, had guided the organization to engage more in gathering intelligence on Hamas and less in subversion against government ministers and their activities in Judea and Samaria, which leads to improved security for all Israeli citizens, we would not have experienced the severe consequences of his failures on October 7th.".
""The new head of the Shin Bet, Major General David Zini, has a critical role in cleaning out the stables and returning this important organization to its track and role for Israel's security. I have full confidence in his ability to do this, with God's help, and as Minister of Finance I will stand by him and provide him with the necessary tools to do so.".
