Eisenkot Security Threat: Police Raise Protection Level

Israel Police have elevated the threat assessment level for Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yesh Atid party, to level 4 out of 6, according to a report Monday evening on Israel's Channel 12 News.

The decision was made last Thursday and represents a formal acknowledgment of a heightened threat against the former IDF Chief of Staff, though not an assessment of immediate mortal danger.

According to journalist Yaron Avraham's report, police believe Eisenkot faces targeted risk related to the current election campaign. The assessment comes as he is emerging as one of the leading contenders for the prime ministership, with some surveys showing his party "Yashar", is overtaking Likud.

Alongside the elevated threat assessment, Police Commissioner Danny Levy submitted a written opinion to the advisory committee on VIP protection, recommending that Eisenkot receive immediate armed security. The recommendation reflects the severity of the situation as perceived by senior police leadership.

The central question now is which agency will provide the protection. The advisory committee is recommending to the ministerial committee that the Shin Bet security service assume responsibility for Eisenkot's security, but the final decision rests with the ministerial committee on Shin Bet affairs.

About a month ago, Eisenkot's chief of staff, Ron Barkai, sent a letter to Shin Bet director regarding the security issue. Barkai wrote that as a leading candidate for prime minister, and with public discourse so heated and extreme, Eisenkot was not receiving adequate security arrangements. As a result, Eisenkot's team has been forced to provide private security without weapons.

Subsequently, it was reported that Shin Bet director Zini determined the service would not provide security for Eisenkot. Eisenkot's campaign responded with a strongly worded letter sent to relevant officials, including the Attorney General, arguing that "the Government of Israel, the ministerial committee on Shin Bet affairs, and the advisory committee on security—are not fulfilling their personal responsibility for extraneous political reasons."

Now, with the formal recommendation from the police and the commissioner, the decision moves to the ministerial committee, which must determine the central question: who will protect the Yesh Atid chairman—the Shin Bet or the police—and at what level.