Unit 730 orders private firm to guard Eisenkot from Sunday

Gadi Eisenkot will have a private security detail operating under the direct command of Shin Bet Unit 730 starting Sunday morning. The Yashar party announced the arrangement, which places a hired firm under the oversight of Israel's domestic security agency rather than the standard state protection model.

The security setup stems from a dispute over Eisenkot's eligibility for state protection. In August, Shin Bet chief David Zini ruled that Eisenkot did not meet the criteria for direct protection by the elite Unit 730. That stance changed in September when the Advisory Committee for Personal Security reviewed updated intelligence. The committee recommended state oversight, leading Zini to approve the new framework.

The approved measures include an intelligence support framework from security units, authorization for the private team to carry weapons, and direct coordination between the Shin Bet and the hired guards. The agency will also conduct periodic assessments to gauge the specific threat level facing the party leader.

This authority was granted to Zini by the Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs. The committee empowered him to set security arrangements for party leaders who do not hold public office or qualify for other state protections. This authorization remains in effect until the next Knesset is sworn in.

The arrangement follows a period of uncertainty. Yashar told The Jerusalem Post in September that no detail had been assigned despite Zini's approval. The state's decision to protect Eisenkot contrasts with the handling of other petitions. Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats, requested similar protection citing a comparable threat level but was denied immediate state coverage.