Shin Bet Chief Defends Decision Not to Provide Gadi Eizenkot With Security Detail

Shin Bet Chief David Zini announced that he fully supports the decision not to provide former IDF Chief of Staff and current prime ministerial candidate Gadi Eizenkot with a personal Shin Bet security detail. The decision, made in consultation with Judge Noam Solberg of the Central Elections Committee, was based on professional assessments indicating that granting Eizenkot such protection could unfairly boost his election campaign by giving him the appearance of an official prime ministerial status, despite him being only a candidate and never having held a political office.

Zini emphasized that the Shin Bet and the Central Elections Committee coordinated fully on this matter. The rationale was that providing state security to Eizenkot might be perceived by voters as conferring an official governmental endorsement, which could distort the electoral process. Eizenkot currently receives private security, but the request for state-provided protection was denied due to the absence of credible threats and his non-inclusion among the seven state symbols entitled to such security.

The decision sparked political controversy, with former Prime Minister Yair Lapid criticizing it as a scandal and highlighting the contrast with the extensive security provided to Yair Netanyahu abroad. Lapid warned that any harm to Eizenkot would be the responsibility of those who denied him protection. Judge Solberg clarified that the Elections Committee has no authority to decide on security matters. The Shin Bet confirmed no intelligence warnings justified providing Eizenkot with a Shin Bet detail, unlike the lifetime security granted to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family.

The controversy began when Eizenkot's campaign argued that as a former military chief and a leading candidate, he faces threats warranting state security. However, the Shin Bet concluded that these conditions were not met. Zini took full responsibility for the decision, which aims to maintain fairness in the electoral process and avoid conferring undue status on candidates through state security privileges.