State security takes charge of Yashar leader's hired guards

The Shin Bet will assume command of security operations for Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot beginning Sunday. The party announced that a private security company will provide the physical protection for Eisenkot, though the personnel will operate under the direct orders of Unit 730.

This arrangement resolves a months-long dispute over whether the Yashar leader qualified for state protection. In August, Shin Bet chief David Zini ruled that Eisenkot did not meet the standards for Unit 730 coverage. That decision was reversed after the Advisory Committee for Personal Security reviewed new intelligence and threat assessments in September.

The committee recommended that the Shin Bet take over oversight of Eisenkot's security. Zini subsequently approved a broader set of measures for party leaders. These protocols include an intelligence support framework, authorization for private security teams to carry weapons, and regular coordination between state agencies and hired guards.

Despite the approval, Yashar officials told The Jerusalem Post in September that no security detail had been assigned to Eisenkot at that time. The party stated this week that the private firm would begin its shift on Sunday morning.

The Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs granted Zini the power to arrange security for party leaders who do not hold public office. This authority remains in effect until the next Knesset is sworn in. Not all petitioners have been approved. Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats, asked for similar protection by citing a comparable threat level, but the Shin Bet has denied his request at this stage.