Israel's Shin Bet to Decide Security for Opposition Leaders

Israel's Shin Bet security agency will independently determine the necessary security measures for opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot, Yair Golan, and Ofer Winter during the upcoming election campaign. The decision was made by the Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs on Wednesday, September 16, chaired by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who was the sole minister present at the meeting. This new protocol allows the Shin Bet to select security arrangements for party leaders who do not currently hold public office and are not yet under state protection. The arrangement will remain in effect until the 26th Knesset is sworn in.

The decision specifically applies to Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party; Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats; and Ofer Winter, leader of the Amcha Yisrael party. Other prominent figures like Naftali Bennett (Be Yahad party), opposition leader Yair Lapid, and Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu party) already receive security due to their former official positions.

Earlier in August 2026, a public advisory committee on protecting public officials had recommended state security for Eisenkot leading up to the elections. However, most committee members were absent from that session. Eisenkot is currently using private security funded by his party. His campaign team hired security personnel for public events and travel after the Shin Bet declined to provide agents from its official protection unit, citing that Eisenkot, not holding a state position, was not formally entitled to such protection.

Despite not holding a current government post, Eisenkot is a significant contender in the upcoming elections, potentially seeking the premiership, which could make him a target during the campaign. The advisory committee began examining the security issue following a request from Noam Solberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee and Deputy President of the Supreme Court. Solberg had written to National Security Council head Shmuel Ben-Ezra, suggesting the committee should consider security for party leaders even if they are not Knesset members.