Shin Bet to Provide State-Funded Security for Yair Golan
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
The Shin Bet will provide state-funded security for Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, just two days before elections. This follows a Supreme Court petition by the party citing a high threat level against Golan. The Shin Bet's interim plan for private security was initially rejected, leading to a court hearing where the agency presented classified assessments. The petition was withdrawn after the Shin Bet committed to full operational responsibility and state funding.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Shin Bet will provide state-funded security for Democrats party chairman Yair Golan.
- The decision comes two days before the Knesset elections.
- The Democrats party petitioned the Supreme Court due to a high threat level against Golan.
- Threat assessments indicated explicit calls for physical harm against Golan.
- The Shin Bet's initial interim plan involved private security firms.
- The Supreme Court heard classified security assessments before the final decision.
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has informed the office of Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, that it will assume full responsibility for his security, funded by the state. This decision comes just two days before the upcoming Knesset elections and follows a petition filed by the Democrats party to the Supreme Court (Bagatz) demanding state-funded security for Golan.
The party's petition, filed on September 29, argued that Golan faces a high level of threat, rated as 4 out of 6 by the Israel Police's threatened individuals unit. The Democrats provided extensive documentation of explicit calls for physical harm against Golan and his family, including threats like "a bullet in the head" and "why not liquidate Yair Golan."
Initially, the advisory committee did not recommend assigning Shin Bet guards to Golan, and the Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs deferred the decision to Shin Bet head David Zini. In September, the Shin Bet proposed an interim plan for the election period that did not involve direct assignment of its agents. Instead, it suggested that parties use private security firms whose guards would be permitted to carry weapons, with Shin Bet intelligence providing threat monitoring and coordination.
The Democrats rejected this interim plan, deeming it insufficient for the high-risk level. A hearing was held at the Supreme Court on October 6 before President Yitzhak Amit and Justices Ofer Groskopf and Ruth Ronen. During the closed-door session, Shin Bet presented classified security assessments regarding the threat to Golan. President Amit acknowledged the significance of the issue and the court's concern, noting the Shin Bet's ongoing guidance to the police but emphasizing the court's traditional reluctance to interfere with operational decisions.
Following the hearing, the petition was withdrawn after the state clarified that the security arrangements would be reviewed and updated based on ongoing situation assessments. A dedicated Shin Bet liaison was appointed to maintain regular contact with the party. The current announcement signifies a shift from the initial plan, fulfilling the commitment made to the Supreme Court to adapt the protection to the evolving reality.
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