Shin Bet Unit 730 Will Direct Private Guards for Gadi Eisenkot

One private security firm will stand guard at the door of Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot’s office starting Sunday morning. That detail will operate under the direct instruction of Unit 730, the elite protection wing of Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet.

The arrangement resolves a dispute that began in August. At that time, Shin Bet chief David Zini ruled that Eisenkot did not meet the criteria for elite protection. That assessment shifted in September. The Advisory Committee for Personal Security reviewed updated intelligence and threat evaluations. The committee recommended that the Shin Bet oversee his security.

Despite Zini’s approval, the party told The Jerusalem Post in September that no security team had yet been assigned to Eisenkot. The new protocol changes that status. A private company will provide the physical guards, but the Shin Bet will hold command authority.

Zini approved a set of measures for party leaders who do not hold public office. These include an intelligence oversight framework, permission for hired security teams to carry weapons, and regular coordination with the Shin Bet. The agency will also conduct periodic situation assessments to gauge the threat level.

The Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs granted Zini the authority to set these arrangements. This authorization remains in force until the next Knesset is sworn in. Not every leader has received such protection. Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats, petitioned for the same coverage. He cited a threat level comparable to Eisenkot’s. The Shin Bet has denied him immediate protection at this stage.