Shin Bet to Manage Security for Gadi Eisenkot

A significant shift in the security posture for Israel’s political leadership has emerged as the Shin Bet prepares to assume direct control over the protection of Gadi Eisenkot. The Yashar party announced that this new arrangement will take effect on Sunday, marking the culmination of a lengthy negotiation process regarding the safety of party heads who do not hold formal state offices. This development resolves a period of uncertainty that had persisted since the intelligence agency initially questioned the necessity of its involvement.

Under the newly agreed protocol, a private security firm will provide the physical guard service for Eisenkot beginning Sunday morning. However, this private team will not operate independently. Instead, it will function under the direct instruction and supervision of Unit 730, the specialized division within the Shin Bet responsible for personal security. This hybrid model allows the state to maintain strategic oversight while leveraging private resources for day-to-day protection tasks.

The decision to extend this level of support was not immediate. In August, Shin Bet chief David Zini determined that Eisenkot did not initially meet the specific criteria required for protection by the elite unit. That stance was revised in September after the Advisory Committee for Personal Security reviewed updated intelligence and threat evaluations. The committee’s subsequent recommendation led Zini to approve the security measures, although the party noted in September that a specific detail had not yet been physically assigned despite the administrative approval.

The approval extends beyond Eisenkot’s individual case, establishing a broader framework for party leaders. The Shin Bet has outlined a set of measures that include an intelligence support structure, authorization for private security teams to carry weapons, and regular coordination between state intelligence units and hired guards. Additionally, periodic assessments will be conducted to gauge the evolving threat levels facing each protected leader. These protocols are designed to provide a consistent standard of safety for political figures who lack the automatic protection afforded to those in government office.

Legal authority for these arrangements stems from the Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs, which granted Zini the power to set security terms for party leaders who are not otherwise entitled to state protection. This authorization remains valid until the next Knesset is sworn in, providing a temporary but robust safety net for the current political cycle. The framework addresses the growing concerns among working political figures who face heightened risks without the traditional safeguards of their government counterparts.

The implementation of this new standard has not been applied uniformly across all petitioning parties. Yair Golan, the chairman of The Democrats, also sought Shin Bet protection, arguing that his threat level was comparable to that of Eisenkot. However, the agency has denied him immediate protection at this stage. This divergence highlights the selective nature of the current security policies and leaves open questions about the specific thresholds that determine which party leaders receive state-backed support.

As the transition takes place this Sunday, the focus remains on how effectively the intelligence agencies can integrate with private security teams. The outcome of this arrangement will likely influence future requests for protection from other political figures and serve as a precedent for managing the safety of those who shape public policy without holding formal executive power.