Gadi Eizenkot Turns to Shin Bet for Security, Forced to Use Private Guards Amid Iranian Threats

Gadi Eizenkot, chairman of the Yisrael party and former IDF Chief of Staff, has written to Shin Bet head David Zini expressing concerns over his personal security amid Iranian threats and the tense atmosphere surrounding the upcoming Israeli elections. Eizenkot’s campaign chief warned that the volatile election environment and escalating threats against senior Israeli figures, including Eizenkot himself, have not been adequately addressed by the Shin Bet. As a result, Eizenkot’s team has resorted to hiring private security guards who operate without firearms, since police regulations prohibit armed private security personnel.

In his letter, Eizenkot’s chief of staff explained that following recent incidents and disturbing reports, they decided to secure Eizenkot through a private security firm, noting they lack intelligence capabilities to provide additional information to the private team. Despite serious concerns within Shin Bet about the issue, no official security arrangements have been made for Eizenkot. Israeli law does not mandate state security for Eizenkot because he is not a current government official, creating a legal gap that leaves him vulnerable.

This situation is further complicated by controversial remarks from senior officials, such as Deputy Colonel Ronen Cohen, who implied Eizenkot was linked to the October 7 attacks. The lack of formal protection for Eizenkot raises significant security and legal questions as the election approaches and threats persist.