Shin Bet Unit 730 Assumes Command of Gadi Eisenkot's Private Guard

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, will be guarded by a private security company starting Sunday morning. The detail will operate under the direct instruction of Unit 730 of the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security agency. The party announced the arrangement on Friday.

The shift in security protocols follows a review process that began in August. At that time, Shin Bet chief David Zini initially ruled that Eisenkot did not meet the criteria for protection by the elite unit. The assessment changed in September after the Advisory Committee for Personal Security examined updated intelligence and threat evaluations. The committee then recommended that the Shin Bet oversee the leader's security.

Despite Zini's approval, the Yashar party told The Jerusalem Post in September that no security detail had yet been assigned to Eisenkot. The delay has now been resolved with the implementation of the Unit 730 directive.

The Shin Bet outlined a set of measures for party leaders that do not hold public office. These measures include an intelligence oversight and support framework, permission for hired security teams to carry weapons, and coordination between the Shin Bet and 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. This authorization remains in force until the next Knesset is sworn in. Not every party leader who requested protection has received it. Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats, petitioned for Shin Bet protection citing a threat level comparable to Eisenkot's. The agency has denied him immediate protection at this stage.