U.S. Web site reveals Shin Bet chief candidate's name

The name of one of the candidates for the next head of the Shin Bet security service was revealed last week in the United States. The full name of Y., who until recently was a deputy chief and is expected to compete for the position of head of the service when Yuval Diskin leaves, appeared on a document he wrote for an important U.S. Web site. According to the Shin Bet Law, the name of organization employees, with the exception of the head, are prohibited from publication in Israel. Y. is currently on a study leave from the agency in the U.S.

In addition to providing Y.'s full name, the Web site mentions positions he has held. Even after the posting in the U.S. his full name is barred from publication in Israel by law.

An investigation by Haaretz found that prior to leaving Israel, Y. received permission from the Shin Bet to lecture in the U.S. under his full name, with his past positions indicated. The Military Censor did not prohibit the publication of his name in Haaretz when the article was submitted to it on Friday, but it did indicate that its publication would be a violation of the Shin Bet Law.

The Shin Bet said in a statement that the organization opposes the publication of the name despite its disclosure abroad. The reason would seem to be the assumption that publication in Israel would attract more media attention to Y. in the future. In practice, the Shin Bet opposition is temporary. When Y. returns from the U.S. he will likely apply to replace Diskin when his five-year term ends, in May 2010. If Y. is appointed head of the agency, his name will be made public; if not, he will leave the agency and his identity will no longer be a secret.

Y., about 50, wears a kippa. He served as Jerusalem and West Bank district head of the Shin Bet in 2003-2005, at the height of the second intifada. He was appointed deputy to Diskin after that, and less than a year later he was replaced by D.

In the Web article, Y. opined that most Hamas leaders are interested in maintaining a cease-fire with Israel in the short term, since that would allows the organization to make progress on other goals.