Shin Bet Chief Offers Gadi Eisenkot Emergency Contact Amid Security Decision Controversy

Shin Bet Chief David Zini recently spoke with former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot regarding the decision not to provide him with personal security. Zini reportedly gave Eisenkot a command center phone number, instructing him to use it "if something happens." Following this, a member of the VIP security unit contacted Eisenkot, identifying themselves as the point of contact.

Last month, Zini informed Eisenkot that he was considered under threat. However, the chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Solberg, denied claims that he decided against Eisenkot's security detail. Solberg stated that Zini approached him voluntarily and explained that no intelligence indicated a threat to Eisenkot, emphasizing that Zini is the professional authority on such matters.

The Shin Bet confirmed that the decision not to secure Eisenkot was made solely by Zini after consultations with professional bodies, including Solberg. They clarified that the Central Elections Committee does not have the authority to decide on personal security, which is governed by the Shin Bet under government directives.

In response, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel demanded that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara urgently investigate the conflicting statements between Zini and the Central Elections Committee. They called for clarity on who made the security decision, the rationale behind it, and whether the public was misled about responsibility. The organization highlighted the sensitivity of the issue, stressing the public's right to know the truth about the security of an election candidate and trust in state institutions.