Shin Bet Security for Yishar Chairman Gadi Eisenkot to Be Handled by Private Firm
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yishar party, will receive security from a private firm managed by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), with direct Shin Bet protection only on election day. This decision follows weeks of political debate and demands for full state security due to alleged threats. Shin Bet head David Zini initially rejected the request based on professional assessments but later approved a compromise. The issue also involved a similar petition by Yair Golan to the High Court.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot will be secured by a private company managed by the Shin Bet, with operatives on election day.
- The Shin Bet initially rejected a full state security detail for Eisenkot, citing professional assessments.
- Eisenkot's party cited increased threats and a police risk assessment of level 4 out of 6.
- Former Shin Bet officials criticized Eisenkot's personal appeal to Shin Bet head David Zini.
- Yair Golan petitioned the High Court for similar security, drawing political criticism.
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has announced a new security arrangement for Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yishar party. Effective Sunday morning, Eisenkot will be protected by a private security company, which will be directly guided, operated, and managed by Unit 730, the Shin Bet's personal security unit. On election day itself, however, Eisenkot will be directly secured by Shin Bet operatives. This decision concludes weeks of political controversy and demands from Eisenkot's party for full Shin Bet protection, citing threats against him.
The Shin Bet's decision comes after Eisenkot's party repeatedly requested enhanced security in recent months. Eisenkot had approached Shin Bet head David Zini, alleging an increase in targeted threats at public events. Following an Israeli Police risk assessment that raised his threat level to 4 out of 6, Eisenkot's party headquarters sent a sharp letter to Zini and the Police Commissioner demanding immediate state security.
Initially, Zini rejected the request for direct Shin Bet protection, stating Eisenkot did not legally qualify as a "state symbol." However, the Shin Bet later unusually authorized Eisenkot's private security guards to carry weapons and provided them with intelligence support and direct communication with the agency's command center. This move drew criticism from former senior Shin Bet officials, who suggested Eisenkot's personal appeal to Zini aimed to undermine the Shin Bet head's professional decisions.
Amidst comparisons to the security detail for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's family, it was revealed that Netanyahu himself had contacted Zini to assess the necessary security for Eisenkot. In September, an advisory committee recommended Shin Bet protection for Eisenkot, but the ministerial committee deferred the decision back to the Shin Bet. The agency maintained its adherence to standard procedures, proposing a uniform approach for all party leaders not currently under state protection.
The issue also gained traction when Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats, petitioned the High Court of Justice (Bagatz) for similar security, a move met with political criticism. Critics argued Golan was attempting to create a parallel with Eisenkot, despite his lower assessed threat level not warranting close Shin Bet protection. The High Court is scheduled to hear Golan's petition on Tuesday.
The final compromise means the Shin Bet will not provide daily protection but will manage the private security firm and offer a focused state security detail on election day.
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