Shin Bet to Guard Leaders of Three Israeli Parties Starting Today

The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) will assume responsibility for guarding the leaders of three Israeli parties: Gadi Eisenkot of the National Unity party, Yair Golan of the Democratic Movement party, and Avi Winter of the Amcha Israel party, effective Sunday. The parties announced they had been informed of the change. Eisenkot's security will be provided by a private firm operating under the direct supervision of Shin Bet's Unit 730. The Democratic Movement party stated that the Shin Bet informed Golan's office that he would be under state-funded security from Sunday morning, following a petition the party filed with the Supreme Court. State representatives presented a security mechanism for Golan and pledged to update it based on evolving security assessments, noting the latest update occurred two days before the elections.

Approximately one month prior, the Shin Bet had announced it did not intend to provide direct guarding for Eisenkot or Golan, instead offering intelligence monitoring and escort services, including threat assessment and intelligence gathering on risk levels. At that time, the agency indicated it would conduct periodic security assessments to determine threat levels and necessary protection for each party leader. It also noted that if a leader requested security, a private security company they hired could be permitted to carry weapons, even without specific intelligence or a direct threat.

The Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs had previously granted the agency the authority to determine necessary protection arrangements for party leaders not already under guard, until the 27th Knesset is sworn in. A meeting on this matter, chaired by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, decided that the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, would determine the security arrangements for Eisenkot, Golan, and Winter.