The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has canceled its annual Pride Month event, as well as a variety of other pride-related plans, under the orders of the Shin Bet head David Zini, N12 reported on Tuesday.
According to sources, plans for the Shin Bet’s Pride Month event were well underway when the organizers were notified of its cancellation, with no clear explanation provided.
Sources also listed to N12 the other pride programming planned to take place within the Shin Bet during Pride Month, which had been denied. These plans ranged from changes to the computer system’s screensavers and the addition of a banner on the screens to the issuance of stickers and the hanging of pride flags throughout the event.
The head of Human Resources at Shin Bet also received an order transferring the entire budget allocated for pride-related events and programming to the general organization’s budget.
“At the outset, we would like to note for the sake of good order that no official request on this subject has reached the office of the head of the service,” the Shin Bet told N12 about the situation. “However, and not to be out of place, we would like to clarify that to the extent that a particular group wishes to gather and hear a lecture of its choosing, there is no impediment, provided that this complies with the service’s procedures, which have not been changed in this area since the current head of the service took office.”
Several Israeli figures commented on Zini’s decision, both in support and in condemnation.
Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli (Likud) proclaimed that “It is not the role of national security organizations to promote gender and LGBTQ agendas.”
“The IDF and Shin Bet are not universities, nor are they political organizations,” he wrote in a post on X/Twitter. “Their role is one: to safeguard Israel’s security!”
On the other hand, Democrats chairman Yair Golan called out Zini, saying that the LGBTQ community is not a threat to Israel’s security.
“Discrimination, extremism, and messianism are the threat,” he stated. “The Shin Bet must be a home for everyone who serves the state with loyalty and professionalism – regardless of their identity.”
The Aguda Association for LGBTQ Equality in Israel said that it was “shocked,” and demanded that Zini retract his decision, saying that “It would be better for the head of the Shin Bet to focus on Israel’s security rather than on silencing and excluding his employees from the LGBTQ community.
“David Zini – we just wanted to remind you of Section 7A of the General Security Service Law: ‘The Service is tasked with safeguarding the state’s security, the democratic regime and its institutions,'” the Aguda wrote.
