Democrats Urge Shin Bet Chief to Secure Party Leader Golan Amid Rising Threats

The Democratic Party is set to formally request that Shin Bet Director David Barnea provide security for party chairman Yair Golan, according to a report by Kan News. This move follows a decision by the Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs the previous evening, which tasked the Shin Bet chief with determining whether and how to secure the leaders of parties whose members are not currently serving as Knesset members or active ministers. This includes Golan, Gadi Eisenkot, and Ofer Winter.

The Democrats intend to press Barnea to grant Golan security due to a significant increase in threats against his life, previously reported by Kan News. "The decision of the Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs clarifies the responsibility of the Shin Bet director for protecting the democratic regime and its institutions from threats. In light of the severity of the threats, we expect Barnea to make a swift decision and not delay or drag his feet when there is a real danger," the party stated.

Following an interview by Sara Netanyahu, wife of the Prime Minister, on Channel 14, in which she alluded to a conspiracy theory suggesting Golan is a traitor, a surge in threats against the Democratic Party leader was reported. The party's CEO, Omer Lubaton-Granot, has already appealed to the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Solberg, demanding immediate security for Golan.

Meanwhile, the advisory committee to the Shin Bet director on personal security reportedly ignored the threats against Golan, recommending security only for Eisenkot. This recommendation was made despite the threat level against Golan being classified as level 4 out of 6, the same as Eisenkot's. Discussions on the matter are ongoing, and Eisenkot's security has not yet been implemented.