Ministerial Committee Delays Shin Bet Security Approval for Gadi Eisenkot
The Ministerial Committee has failed to approve Shin Bet security for Yashar! leader Gadi Eisenkot. Meanwhile, Democrats leader Yair Golan remains without state protection ahead of the elections.
Eight days have passed since the Public Advisory Committee recommended that the Shin Bet secure the chairman of the Yashar! party, Gadi Eisenkot, until the elections. However, the Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs has yet to convene to approve the recommendation.
In the meantime, with no future meeting date set, Gadi Eisenkot continues to travel with private security hired by his party. Members of the ministerial committee have neither received nor submitted a request to convene.
An informed source told ynet:
"This is undoubtedly a strange event. There are less than two months left until the elections, and in any case, Eisenkot will become a Knesset member and receive security from the Knesset."
Security Gaps for Party Leaders
The Advisory Committee for Personal Security is also scheduled to meet again, this time to discuss security arrangements for the leader of the Democrats party, Yair Golan. No date has been set for this meeting either, despite only 51 days remaining until the elections for the 26th Knesset.
Among all party leaders, Yair Golan is in the most vulnerable position, as he is not currently a member of the Knesset and does not receive any state-funded security. In contrast:
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Naftali Bennett is secured by the Shin Bet due to his tenure as prime minister.
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Yair Lapid is secured by the Shin Bet as a former prime minister and leader of the opposition.
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Avigdor Lieberman and MK Mansour Abbas receive security details from the Knesset.
While the advisory committee is expected to recommend Shin Bet security for Yair Golan as well, the recommendation remains meaningless without the ministerial committee's approval.
Official Responses
Colonel (Res.) Ronen Cohen, who heads the Public Advisory Committee, stated:
"I do not know when the ministerial committee will convene, as I am not a party to the matter. Any further discussions on any topic will take place only after the ministerial committee meets."
The advisory committee approved security for Gadi Eisenkot last month, contrary to the stance of the Shin Bet, which maintained its refusal despite growing threats against the candidate.
In response to the demand for security, the Shin Bet stated:
"The protection of state symbols by the Shin Bet is determined by law and in accordance with the decisions of the Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs. It should be emphasized that the Shin Bet conducts ongoing situational assessments and intelligence monitoring to detect and thwart threats around Gadi Eisenkot, should any arise."
