The file of protecting political figures in Israel has entered a more sensitive phase, after the revelation of new security recommendations related to Gadi Eisenkot and the family of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid accusations that the protection decisions were politically exploited, and warnings of threats described as “dangerous” targeting Sarah Netanyahu and the family members.
According to a report by journalist Yuval Karni in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the head of the Advisory Committee for Personal Protection, Reserve Colonel Ronen Cohen, said in an interview with Reshet B radio that there are parties trying to use the committee for political purposes, adding: “There is no doubt that some people like to brag about these matters, but the Shin Bet is not a private guard company.”
Cohen touched on the decision to recommend before the Ministerial Committee to agree to provide protection for the head of the “Yashar!” party. Gadi Eisenkot, explaining that the decision was not based on specific intelligence information regarding a direct threat to him, but rather on a combination of factors that include the heat of the electoral atmosphere, the escalation of rhetoric on platforms, and Eisenkot’s status as one of the prominent candidates.
Cohen, who has been in his position for more than a year, said that he was not authorized to reveal all the reasons that led to the decision, but he stuck to his position that the method of approaching the Shin Bet was wrong and “opened the dam,” as he put it, for more requests for protection.
He added: “I have to build the decision in a way that makes it able to withstand the committee of ministers and the legal test, so it took many hours.”
He explained that no specific intelligence information had been received regarding Eisenkot that could indicate a direct threat against him, but rather there was a “general threat” and “something that could develop into a general threat during the election period.”
He justified his recommendation by saying that Israel is facing tense elections, and that Eisenkot is currently considered a prominent candidate, adding: “One of the mistakes is to rely solely on intelligence information, because most assassinations, although I did not conduct a census, are carried out by an individual or cell for which there is no prior intelligence information.”
Cohen noted that there is also no specific threat against the rest of the party leaders.
He was asked whether there were parties trying to use the committee for political interests, and he answered in the affirmative, saying: “Who does not do that?” We live among these people. “This is true of both the right and the left.”
In parallel, Cohen revealed that he recommended providing protection for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for life, for Sarah Netanyahu for the duration of her husband’s life, and for their children for an additional 5 years.
He explained that this recommendation was based on intelligence materials that, according to him, indicated “the most proven threat, which is an intense and tangible desire to take revenge on his wife and children.”
He added that the position of the professional authorities was unanimous, and that Sarah Netanyahu was classified as a “serious threat.”
Cohen refused to answer whether he was in contact with the Prime Minister’s wife, stressing at the same time that he was not subjected to any pressure regarding this issue.
He said: “I think there is confusion between her being very worried and afraid for the fate of her children, herself, and her husband, and saying that she is putting pressure on her. “This is the most normal thing in the world.”
Cohen then moved on to attack journalist Uri Misgav, after his interlocutors indicated his doubts about the need to protect Yair Netanyahu, who had previously been revealed to have thwarted an attempt to target him, which led to his transfer from Miami to Israel.
“I promise you that if Uri Misgav had been in an apartment in Miami and received the information, he would have swum across the ocean,” Cohen said.
“The understanding was that the process had already begun,” he added. As for where, when, and how long it will take, these are matters that cannot be dealt with lightly.”
He continued in his criticism of Misgav: “As for Uri Misgav, unfortunately, he deserves to be arrested for investigation because of the reports he publishes everywhere.”
He added: “The real gatekeeper is the one who really cares and does not want to harm Israel or its leadership. If you want to shoot luxuriant looks at the pool or other things, that’s one thing, but if you become obsessed and constantly report back and shoot a random photo on a balcony, what do you want? Do you want to be filtered? Do you want to serve the enemy? “Certainly this deserves investigation.”
On the other hand, the Democratic Party attacked the method of dealing with the issue of protecting its president, Yair Golan, after it was decided to postpone the discussion regarding providing protection for him.
The party said, “The decision to protect Gadi Eisenkot, while at the same time leaving Yair Golan’s security unprotected, reveals the truth: the considerations are political.”
He added, “2 out of 3 members of the Advisory Committee for the Protection of Personalities are political appointments of Netanyahu, and they now refuse to protect the person whom Netanyahu and his machine have made a central target of the incitement and delegitimization campaign against the Change camp.”
The party continued: “Therefore, refusing to protect Golan is a political decision that serves the incitement campaign and allows it to continue. Responsibility for the security and life of Yair Golan lies with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Shin Bet head David Zinni.”
The party concluded by saying: “If they do not separate politics from the duty to protect people’s lives, we will demand that the Supreme Court oblige them to do so.”
Between the absence of a specific threat to some figures, the classification of the level of danger to Netanyahu’s family as “serious,” and the mutual accusations of politicizing protection decisions, the security file in Israel has turned into a direct part of a broader political battle that is becoming more heated as the elections approach.
