Gadi Eizenkot Urges Shin Bet Chief for Personal Security 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 targeting senior Israeli figures. According to a report by Channel 12 on Wednesday, Eizenkot's campaign chief warned that the volatile election climate and heightened rhetoric have intensified security risks, which the Shin Bet currently cannot adequately address.

Due to the lack of official protection, Eizenkot's team has resorted to hiring private security guards who are not permitted to carry weapons, as police regulations prohibit armed private security. Eizenkot's office stated that following an internal assessment and several recent incidents, they decided to employ private security but have no additional intelligence to share with them.

The issue remains unresolved despite Shin Bet's internal concerns, as Israeli law does not mandate security for Eizenkot since he is not a government symbol. This legal gap has raised questions, especially after controversial remarks by Deputy Commander Ronen Cohen, who suggested Eizenkot was linked to the October 7 attacks. The current security arrangements for Eizenkot are considered problematic given the ongoing threats and election tensions.