Gadi Eisenkot Gains State Security Backing From Shin Bet
The domestic security agency will directly oversee the protection of the Yashar party leader starting this weekend following a review of new threat intelligence.
By Fatima Zayed ·
Gadi Eisenkot, the head of the Yashar party, will begin receiving state-level security protection on Sunday morning. The arrangement marks a significant shift in how the government safeguards political figures who do not hold formal office. A private security firm will provide the physical guard detail, but it will operate under the direct command of Unit 730, the elite division of the Shin Bet responsible for protecting high-profile individuals.
The decision arrives after months of negotiation and assessment. In August, David Zini, the head of the Shin Bet, initially ruled that Eisenkot did not meet the specific criteria for Unit 730 protection. That stance changed in September when the Advisory Committee for Personal Security reviewed updated intelligence and threat evaluations. The committee concluded that the risks to the Yashar leader warranted direct oversight by the state security agency.
Despite Zini’s approval in September, Yashar officials told the press at the time that no actual security detail had been put in place. The party had been engaged in a prolonged effort to secure this protection. The gap between the approval and the implementation highlighted the complexities of assigning state resources to opposition figures who are not yet members of the government.
The Shin Bet has outlined a broader framework for protecting party leaders. These measures include an intelligence oversight and support system provided by various intelligence units. The agency has also granted permission for security teams hired by these leaders to carry weapons. Furthermore, the Shin Bet will coordinate directly with these private teams and conduct periodic assessments to gauge the current threat level facing each leader.
The authority for these arrangements stems from a specific grant of power. The Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs gave Zini the mandate to set security protocols for party leaders who hold no public office and are not otherwise entitled to state protection. This authorization remains in effect until the next Knesset is sworn in, providing a defined window for these temporary measures.
The move places Eisenkot in a distinct category of protected individuals. While many political figures rely on personal funds for security, the involvement of the Shin Bet signals a higher level of perceived risk. The direct instruction of Unit 730 ensures that the private guards follow strict state protocols rather than operating independently.
Not all party leaders have seen the same success. Yair Golan, the chairman of The Democrats, also petitioned for Shin Bet protection. Golan cited a threat level comparable to that of Eisenkot. However, the Shin Bet has denied him immediate protection at this stage. This distinction underscores that the security assessments are individualized based on specific intelligence and threat evaluations.
The implementation of these measures begins this weekend. The transition from private-only security to a state-supervised model aims to streamline communication and response times. It also reflects the government’s ongoing effort to balance the safety of political leaders with the limited resources of the domestic security apparatus.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
