Activists are Receiving Invitations for "Friendly Conversations" from the Shin Bet
- ACRI
- Dec 31, 2025
- 2 min read
On December 29, 2025, the media published that men in civilian clothing who identified themselves as police officers arrived at the home of a well-known protest activist and gave her a form to appear for "questioning" at a district police station. When she arrived at the station, she discovered that three Shin Bet officers were waiting for her, to have a "friendly conversation" about posts she published on social media criticizing government policy and calling for civil resistance. The next day reports emerged that another prominent protest activist received a phone call from a man who identified himself as "Negev from the Shin Bet," and invited him to a meeting at a police station in Haifa. When the activist informed the caller that he did not plan to come to the meeting, the latter replied that if he refused to come "a patrol car would be sent to him."
These cases are two more in a series of incidents in which the Shin Bet have become involved in civilian protests and criminal investigations. According to reports by the media, about 20 protesters have received calls from the Shin Bet over the past two years, including warning calls following their protest activity.
On December 31, 2025, ACRI sent an appeal to the legal advisors of the government, the Shin Bet, and the police. Attorney Elza Bugnet argued that the warning calls constitute a blatant violation of the Shin Bet's authority and are an infringement on constitutional rights and the foundations of democratic governance. She also noted that summoning the activists to police stations was disguised as a summons for police questioning, creating the false impression that appearing was mandatory.
The cases in which it was reported that the Shin Bet was involved in criminal investigations, particularly those that allegedly occurred in the context of protests, paints a particularly alarming picture of the expansion of Shin Bet involvement in protest activities and criminal investigations for the purpose of intimidating activists and deterring them from publicly criticizing the government or participating in protests. We requested that it be clarified to the Shin Bet and the police that Shin Bet involvement in protests exceeds its authority, and that summoning activists for warning conversations disguised as police questioning when there is an obligation to appear is unlawful and contrary to rulings by the Supreme Court. We further demanded that the Shin Bet and the police immediately cease holding these conversations and other activities whose purpose is \to suppress citizens and deter them from exercising their freedom of expression and protest.
ACRI’s appeal, December 31, 2025 (Heb)
