Shin Bet chief says he alone made call to deny Gadi Eisenkot state security

The Shin Bet chief confirmed he alone determined that Gadi Eisenkot, a leading contender for Prime Minister, would not receive state security protection. As a result of this refusal, Eisenkot is reportedly carrying a personal firearm for his own defense. The agency instructed the candidate to contact an emergency hotline should an incident occur, despite public concerns regarding rising threats against his safety.

Coverage from The Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, and Ynetnews highlights the divergence between the agency’s assessment and the perceived necessity of security given Eisenkot’s political profile. The chair of the elections committee stated that the Shin Bet possesses no intelligence regarding specific efforts to harm Eisenkot, a point central to the agency's stance on the matter. Future developments depend on whether the Shin Bet reassesses its security protocols for political candidates during this election cycle.

Coverage does not yet specify if the agency will change its policy or if additional security measures will be implemented to address the threats cited by observers.