Maj. Gen. (res.) David Zini Sunday took the reins of the Shin Bet, vowing to stay above politics, as government critics, including three former Shin Bet heads and two former IDF chiefs, petitioned the High Court to block his “unreasonable” appointment by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Zini was first nominated by Netanyahu as head of the agency in May, following the controversial ouster of former chief Ronen Bar amid a Shin Bet probe of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Zini has himself drawn criticism for his inexperience in intelligence work and for his self-described “messianic” views, including, reportedly, that “the judicial system is a dictatorship that rules Israel.”

The former general, who was fired from the military for holding talks with Netanyahu behind the IDF chief’s back, will be appointed as Shin Bet chief by the agency’s acting head, an officer whose name cannot be published and is referred to by the Hebrew initial “Shin.”

Netanyahu, in a statement Sunday morning, wished Zini luck “in the enormous mission facing him.”

He also thanked Shin “for his dedicated service, which has contributed greatly to the security of Israel’s citizens.”

Zini, who is religiously observant, marked the start of his new position by attending morning prayer services at the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, according to footage on social media. He was then hosted with his family at President Isaac Herzog’s residence in the capital.

Meeting with Zini, Herzog told him that Israel expects him to safeguard the nation’s values.

“We want security, we want peace, we want tranquility in Israeli society, and we want to preserve both the functioning of Israeli society and the values of the state,” said Herzog, according to a statement from his spokesperson.

“You begin your tenure with an important national mission, at a complex time with numerous challenges and tasks,” Herzog said. “You come with immense experience in the field of security and in other areas connected to it. I know your good character and your skills, and I am certain you will succeed in your mission.”

Zini, in his response, stressed national unity and non-partisan dedication to the state.

“I explained to my children the symbol we are standing in front of, and I explained to them what statesmanship means — what the institution of the presidency represents and fulfills in its apolitical role, which rises above all divisions,” he said.

“By virtue of what we discovered here 2,000 years ago — we returned only through unity, through our deep roots and our great future. We will act with statesmanship, with loyalty to these people, to this state, to its values, to all its shades and facets, with complete faithfulness and in great unity, and with deep comradeship for the security of the state and its citizens,” said Zini.

The High Court of Justice on Friday removed the last hurdle to Zini’s appointment, saying the court would not freeze the appointment as it considers petitions against it by the government watchdog and other groups.

The petitioners said the appointment was flawed due to a conflict of interest owing to the Qatargate and Bild investigations into Netanyahu’s close aides, as well as concerns over Zini’s conduct. In his ruling, Judge Chaled Kabub said the petitions would be heard in November but that there was no legal obstacle for Zini to serve as Shin Bet chief until then.

On Sunday, former Shin Bet chiefs Nadav Argaman, Ami Ayalon and Carmi Gilon, along with 186 former Shin Bet workers and administrators, petitioned the High Court to halt Zini’s appointment due to what they said was his incompetence and flawed selection process.

The petitioners said they did not join earlier petitions due to the “uniqueness of their deep and intimate familiarity” with the Shin Bet.

They said Netanyahu was mired in a conflict of interest when he nominated Zini, and had decided to do so following a “rushed conversation” with Zini and after Netanyahu picked an “ostensibly qualified” nominee, former Navy chief Eli Sharvit, only to show “instant regret” and nix the move.

They also noted that Zini, whose last position in the IDF was head of its Training Corps, has “never held an intelligence position… such as Intelligence Directorate or Navy commander.”

Furthermore, the petitioners said, Zini would have a “structural conflict of interests relating to his nuclear family,” referring to recorded comments in which Zini’s father, Rabbi Yosef Zini, was heard joking about killing veteran Arab MK Ahmad Tibi and expressing the hope that the High Court would “explode.”

“For these reasons, the petitioners believe the appointment is extremely unreasonable, requiring [the court] to declare it null and void,” said the petition.

Another High Court petition on Sunday, filed by several protest groups together with former IDF chiefs Moshe Ya’alon and Dan Halutz, challenged Zini’s appointment on similar grounds.

Bar, Zini’s predecessor, was dismissed by cabinet vote on March 21 based on Netanyahu’s assertion that he had lost confidence in the security agency head’s ability to do the job in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas onslaught. The ouster faced legal challenges and sparked massive protests, with Netanyahu’s critics accusing the premier of seeking to offload his own responsibility for the failure and thwart the Shin Bet probe of his top aides. Bar ultimately stepped down in June over his failure.

Jeremy Sharon contributed to this report.