Justice Minister Levin Decides Shin Bet Will Set Security for Party Leaders

Justice Minister Yariv Levin unilaterally decided that the Shin Bet security agency will determine the security arrangements for party leaders until the upcoming elections, after no other ministers attended a crucial committee meeting. The meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Shin Bet Affairs was convened following a request from the Central Elections Committee chairman, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, to discuss the Shin Bet's refusal to provide security for prominent political figures.

Justice Sohlberg had previously received multiple inquiries regarding the matter and sought clarity on which authority is responsible for assessing threats against party leaders and for providing their security, distinguishing between Knesset members, ministers, and other candidates like Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan. He emphasized the need to establish criteria for securing party leaders during election periods.

Earlier, an advisory committee had recommended approving Shin Bet security only for Gadi Eisenkot until election day. However, reports indicated that despite an increased threat assessment for Yair Golan by the police, the Shin Bet continued to refuse him security. Golan's party subsequently sent a letter to law enforcement officials, accusing Shin Bet Director David Barnea of deliberately endangering Golan's life by neglecting his security.