Bezalel Zini, the brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, along with two associates
By Sammy,
Bezalel Zini, the brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, along with two associates, has been indicted by state prosecutors for running a cigarette-smuggling operation into the Gaza Strip. The charges against the three include aiding the enemy during wartime, fraud, bribery, and violations of Israel's counterterrorism laws.
Zini, a reservist who managed logistics for the IDF's Uriah Force in Gaza, is accused of exploiting his access to the enclave to smuggle 14 crates of cigarettes on three separate occasions, netting roughly NIS 365,000 ($117,450). His co-defendants, fellow reservist Aviel Ben David and Ben David's associate Amir Dov Halperin, allegedly carried out five similar smuggling trips. Authorities expect indictments against 13 additional suspects in the coming days.
Due to the familial connection to the Shin Bet chief, the investigation is being handled by the Israel Police rather than the agency itself. Israeli authorities have banned the import of cigarettes and other tobacco products into Gaza during the war, citing the lucrative black-market trade and heavy taxation imposed by Hamas. David Zini is not implicated in the case.
Topics: Gaza, IDF
Reported by Sammy for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.