Sohlberg’s security boosted after panel recommends Shin Bet protection for Eisenkot

Deputy Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg’s personal security has been upgraded following a recommendation by the Advisory Committee for Personal Security that the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, provide enhanced protection for Gadi Eisenkot, a prominent prime ministerial contender. The change occurred on Monday, ahead of the upcoming October elections, as per media reports. The upgrade to Sohlberg’s security comes after the advisory panel recommended that the Shin Bet offer increased protection to Eisenkot. This decision followed a previous stance by Shin Bet director David Zini, who had ruled out providing Eisenkot with security, citing lack of evidence of targeted threats. However, the Yashar Party, which backs Eisenkot, warned that threats against him were intensifying and urged a reversal of the decision. The advisory panel’s recommendation appears to have prompted the Central Elections Committee to step in, resulting in the heightened security measures for Sohlberg. The advisory panel’s recommendation for Eisenkot was accompanied by a decision not to recommend Shin Bet protection for Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats Party. The Democrats Party criticized this move, asserting that it was politically motivated. They pointed out that two of the three members of the advisory panel were appointed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that the decision reflected political bias rather than objective security assessments. “This decision to provide security to Gadi Eisenkot while abandoning the security of Yair Golan exposes the truth: the considerations are political,” the Democrats Party stated. They accused Netanyahu and Zini of allowing political agendas to override their duty to protect public figures, particularly those deemed targets of political campaigns. The party called for legal action against Netanyahu and Zini if they failed to separate politics from their responsibilities. Zini had previously explained that he personally decided against assigning security to Eisenkot, stating that the Shin Bet had done all it could and operated within legal boundaries. Netanyahu had ordered Zini to ensure Eisenkot received adequate security, but Zini responded that the agency was adhering to its protocols. The Central Election Committee later confirmed that Zini had informed Sohlberg that there was no intelligence indicating any intent to harm Eisenkot. Sohlberg also requested that Zini notify the committee if such threats emerged during the election period, emphasizing that he lacked the authority to mandate security for Eisenkot. Eisenkot’s team had argued that the private security currently assigned to him was inadequate, raising concerns about his safety as a key figure in the race against Netanyahu. Meanwhile, the advisory panel’s recommendations have sparked broader discussions about the role of political influence in security decisions, highlighting tensions between national security agencies and political leadership. As the election approaches, the situation underscores the complex interplay between security assessments, political pressures, and institutional responsibilities. The outcome of these developments will likely shape the dynamics of the upcoming electoral contest and raise questions about the independence of security agencies in high-stakes political environments.