Shin Bet Chief Zini Takes Sole Responsibility for Denying Security to Former IDF Chief Gadi Eizenkot

Shin Bet Chief David Zini clarified on Sunday that the decision not to provide security to Gadi Eizenkot, former IDF Chief of Staff and current chairman of the Yisrael party, was made solely by him and that he bears full responsibility for it. This statement came amid conflicting reports regarding the role of Noam Solberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee, in the decision. The Shin Bet emphasized that Zini consulted with various professionals, including Solberg, before making the call. They also stressed that the Shin Bet and the Central Elections Committee work in full coordination and that the committee's statement accurately reflects the situation.

Earlier, the Central Elections Committee rejected claims that Solberg had denied security for Eizenkot, stating that Zini had proactively informed Solberg about requests from Eizenkot's team for protection. Solberg was told there was no intelligence or warnings indicating a threat to Eizenkot and that there was no need to convene the Security Cabinet. Solberg requested to be updated if any threats emerged. The committee clarified that Solberg did not make the security decision and is not authorized to do so.

This clarification followed a Shin Bet statement the previous day that the security decision was coordinated with Solberg. The issue had been under discussion for weeks amid repeated requests from Eizenkot's team citing increasing risks, but the final decision was to deny him Shin Bet protection.

Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, now running in Eizenkot's party, criticized the decision, calling it puzzling and asserting he personally knows of threats against Eizenkot from both internal and external sources.