Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pick for Shin Bet Head Maj. Gen. David Zini has been dismissed from the military after he held talks with the premier behind the back of the Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the occupation army announced on Friday.

Zamir was caught off guard by Netanyahu’s Thursday evening announcement to appoint Zini, an active duty general, to head the Shin Bet. Zamir was not consulted ahead of the appointment and was notified just minutes before the Prime Minister’s Office made the announcement.

Zamir met with Zini on Friday morning, the Israeli occupation military said.

In a statement, the Israeli army said that Zamir notified Zini that he would end his service in the military in the coming days.

This means that Zini would be dismissed from the occupation military, regardless of whether his appointment to head the Shin Bet goes ahead or not

“The chief of staff expressed appreciation to Maj. Gen. Zini for a significant and long combat service,” the Israeli army added in the statement.

“The chief of staff clarifies that any dialogue between IDF service members and the political echelon must be with approval of the chief of staff!” the statement added referring to the Israeli occupation forces, confirming that the move was done behind his back.

Zini is currently the head of the Israeli military’s Training Command and General Staff Corps. Normally, appointing an active duty general to a role outside the military would require the chief of staff’s input.

Source: Israeli media