Panel Recommends Shin Bet Security for Opposition Leader Until Elections

An advisory committee has recommended that the Israeli government approve Shin Bet security protection for Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, until the upcoming elections. The recommendation, made by the Public Advisory Committee on Personal Security, was issued despite previous opposition from Shin Bet head David Zini, who had refused to assign security detail to Eisenkot. The final decision rests with the Ministerial Committee on Shin Bet Affairs, chaired by Justice Minister Yariv Levin.

The committee also discussed providing Shin Bet security for Democratic Party chairman Yair Golan, but that discussion is ongoing. Committee chairman Col. (res.) Ronen Cohen stated that the recommendation for Eisenkot was not based on specific intelligence about a concrete threat. Instead, he explained, the committee considered the charged election atmosphere, the escalation of public discourse and social media rhetoric, and Eisenkot's prominent position as a candidate.

Cohen criticized the politicization of security requests, noting that the Shin Bet is not a private security firm. He added that the request for Eisenkot's security subsequently led to a similar request for Golan. The committee convened following a request from Central Elections Committee chairman, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, to establish clear procedures for securing party leaders who are not Knesset members, especially during election periods.

Previously, on August 22, Zini decided against providing Eisenkot with Shin Bet security, despite threats against him on social media and warnings of Iranian and other hostile actors targeting senior Israeli figures. Eisenkot's party has been funding private security for him. The committee's recommendation is non-binding, and the ministerial committee can either accept or reject it.