Shin Bet Unit 730 to Direct Private Guard for Gadi Eisenkot

Israeli political figures have long sought formal state protection for party leaders who do not hold cabinet portfolios. That effort now yields a concrete outcome for one high-profile candidate. The Shin Bet will assume direct operational control over the security arrangements for Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, beginning Sunday.

A private security company will provide the physical guard for Eisenkot. However, that private team will work under the direct instruction of Unit 730, the elite division within the Shin Bet. The party announced this transition in a statement released on Friday, October 24.

The shift in protocol followed a multi-month review process. In August, Shin Bet chief David Zini initially ruled that Eisenkot did not meet the criteria for protection by Unit 730. That assessment changed in September when the Advisory Committee for Personal Security reviewed updated intelligence and threat evaluations. The committee subsequently recommended that the agency oversee his security directly.

Zini approved a broader set of measures for party leaders in September. These measures include an intelligence support framework, permission for hired security teams to carry weapons, and coordination between the Shin Bet and those private teams. The agency will also conduct periodic situation assessments to gauge threat levels. The Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs granted Zini the authority to set these arrangements for party leaders without public office. This authorization remains in force until the next Knesset is sworn in.

The decision to protect Eisenkot does not apply to all petitioners. Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats, also requested Shin Bet protection. Golan cited a threat level comparable to that of Eisenkot. The Shin Bet has denied Golan immediate protection at this stage.