Former Israeli Security Chiefs Urge Protection for Gadi Eisenkot Amid Rising Political Incitement

A group of former top Israeli security officials, including ex-Shin Bet chiefs, IDF chiefs of staff, and Mossad heads, have called for close security protection for Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael party. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, current Shin Bet chief David Zini, Police Commissioner Major General Danni Levi, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, the veterans warn of escalating incitement and extremism in public discourse ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections. They compare the current atmosphere to the period before the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, stating "the writing was on the wall" then as it is now.

Signatories include former Shin Bet heads Ami Ayalon, Nadav Argaman, Carmi Gillon, and Yaakov Peri, as well as former IDF chiefs Dan Halutz and Moshe Ya'alon. They emphasize that Eisenkot, though not the official opposition leader and thus not entitled to Shin Bet protection under current law, is a leading opposition candidate with a stable position in polls. The letter warns that the hostile public mood could lead to an attempt on his life and urges the Shin Bet to adopt a strict precautionary stance regardless of concrete intelligence.

The former officials highlight a legal gap concerning the protection of political figures not formally defined under the law, creating ambiguity between Shin Bet and police responsibilities. They demand immediate discussion of this issue by the Ministerial Committee on Shin Bet Affairs and request that if Netanyahu cannot independently decide on Eisenkot's security, he should promptly bring the matter to the advisory committee and ministerial panel for resolution.

This urgent appeal underscores concerns about rising political violence risks in Israel’s charged pre-election environment and calls for proactive measures to safeguard democratic processes and key political figures.