Unit 730 Orders Private Firm to Guard Yashar Leader

A private security team will stand guard over Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot starting Sunday morning.

The Yashar party announced that the private firm will operate under the direct instruction of Unit 730 of the Shin Bet. This arrangement marks a shift from the agency's initial position in August, when Shin Bet chief David Zini ruled that Eisenkot did not meet the criteria for protection by the elite unit.

The decision followed a review by the Advisory Committee for Personal Security in September. The committee examined updated intelligence and threat evaluations before recommending that the Shin Bet oversee the Yashar leader's security. Zini subsequently approved a set of measures for party leaders, including an intelligence oversight framework and permission for hired security teams to carry weapons.

Despite the approval, the Yashar party told The Jerusalem Post in September that no security detail had been assigned to Eisenkot at that time. The new arrangement provides for coordination between the Shin Bet and the private team, along with periodic situation assessments to gauge the threat level.

The Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs granted Zini the authority to set these security arrangements. This authorization applies to party leaders who hold no public office and are not otherwise entitled to state protection. It remains in force until the next Knesset is sworn in.

Not all petitioners have received similar protection. Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats, asked for Shin Bet protection citing a comparable threat level. The agency has denied his request for immediate protection at this stage.