Democrats party chairman Yair Golan raised doubts about whether David Zini possesses the capacity to oversee the integrity of the forthcoming Knesset elections, speaking at a Jezreel Valley Regional Council campaign event on Wednesday, following Zini's appointment to lead the Shin Bet.
Golan questioned whether Zini was the right choice to oversee the integrity of the electoral process, noting that a number of former senior military officers would have been more appropriate for the role, and adding that only time would reveal how Zini handled that responsibility. Names such as Nitzan Alon, Roni Numa, and Uri Gordin — all holding the rank of major general — were among those available for consideration for the post. Golan also cited the question of whether a candidate's relevant experience meets the role's requirements as a factor warranting consideration.
Golan tied his reservations to what he characterised as Zini's insufficient handling of the "Qatargate" matter and acts of violence by settler groups in the West Bank. He stated that upon Zini's assumption of office, he had outlined two benchmarks for evaluating the role: progress on the "Qatargate" inquiry, and action taken against violence attributed to Jewish settlers in the West Bank. In both areas, Golan indicated, the available evidence points to a gap between what was expected and what was actually delivered.
Golan also pushed back on claims that he had at some point referred to IDF soldiers using terms such as "baby killers" or "Nazis," stating flatly that no such characterisation had ever come from him.
On the question of a second international airport to ease pressure on Ben-Gurion, Golan made clear he remained opposed to placing the new facility at Ramat David in the Jezreel Valley, pointing to security considerations as his reason. Recounting that the matter had landed on his desk a decade earlier, during his time as deputy IDF chief of staff, he noted that he had turned down the proposal despite backing from the Israel Air Force, putting forward the Negev as his preferred location for the airport instead.
Planners ultimately chose the Negev over Ramat David for a second international airport, a decision shaped by security assessments that carried more weight than the Air Force's preference for the northern location. Golan characterised his position as resting on security grounds alone, with no other factors cited.
Analysts have questioned whether positioning the country's second international airport within rocket range of Lebanon can realistically serve as a dependable option, including for emergency situations. Proposals to place the airport in the southern part of the region remain under discussion among planners.
Among the stated priorities, infrastructure expansion across the Negev region and increased population in the country's southern areas were presented as national-level objectives tied to a vision associated with Ben-Gurion. Golan noted that the region to the south faces a lower level of exposure to potential threats compared with other directions. A guarantee that the Jezreel Valley would remain free of any international airport was placed on the table as a binding assurance.
