Israeli Politicians to Receive Shin Bet-Guided Private Security
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Yair Golan and Ofer Winter will receive private security details directed by the Shin Bet, with Gadi Eisenkot also receiving similar protection. The Shin Bet has advised party leaders concerned about their safety to hire private security firms guided by the agency. This comes after the Advisory Committee for Personal Security denied Golan security and the Democrats petitioned the High Court. Shin Bet head David Zini approved private armed security for party leaders even without specific threats.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yair Golan and Ofer Winter will receive private security teams directed by the Shin Bet.
- Gadi Eisenkot will also receive identical security protection from a private firm.
- The Shin Bet advised party leaders to hire private security firms guided by the agency.
- The Advisory Committee previously denied security for Golan but recommended it for Eisenkot.
- The Democrats petitioned the High Court for security for Golan due to explicit threats.
Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, and Ofer Winter, chairman of Am Ekh Israel, will be protected by private security teams directed by the Shin Bet, starting Sunday. The Yishar party announced Saturday that its chairman, Gadi Eisenkot, will receive identical security.
In recent days, the Shin Bet instructed leaders of all parties expressing security concerns to contact a dedicated center and hire private security firms guided by the agency. Unlike incumbent Knesset members or former prime ministers, Eisenkot, Winter, and Golan do not have a designated body responsible for their protection. Had they been active Knesset members, the Knesset Guard would be responsible, and former prime ministers are protected by the Shin Bet.
The Advisory Committee for Personal Security had previously denied a Shin Bet detail for Golan in late August, recommending instead security for Eisenkot by the agency. The Democrats party petitioned the High Court of Justice last month, demanding the Shin Bet head, the ministerial committee for Shin Bet affairs, and the government grant Golan security due to explicit threats against his life and family.
About a month after the committee's decision regarding Yishar's chairman, the agency stated it would not protect the party leader. Shin Bet head David Zini noted at the time that he had approved other measures to provide optimal security for party leaders. Zini also approved that if a party leader desired security, the agency would permit a private company hired by the leader to carry weapons, even without specific intelligence or a concrete threat.
Days before the advisory committee's decision, Zini spoke with Eisenkot, telling him he was providing a hotline number for emergencies. Subsequently, a member of the Personal Security Unit contacted Eisenkot to clarify that he was the point of contact. This review of Eisenkot's security preceded a request from the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg. In August, Sohlberg stated that Shin Bet head David Zini had informed him there was no reason to provide security for Eisenkot.
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