Shin Bet head David Zini decided, at this stage, not to provide close security to the chairman of the left-wing Yashar party, Gadi Eisenkot.
According to a report by Yaron Avraham on Channel 12, the decision was made after several weeks in which Eisenkot's people made repeated requests to expand the security system around him.
They claim that the election campaign, public discourse, and threats from Iran against senior Israeli officials have led to a significant increase in the level of risk facing him.
The Shin Bet responded to Eisenkot headquarters that a contact person from the organization would be made available to him, and intelligence assistance would be provided in preparation for specific events, but that a tight security envelope would not be approved.
Following the decision, Eisenkot's people sent a letter to the parties involved, including Attorney Gali Baharav of Yara, in which they protested the decision and warned of its consequences.
The letter states: "The atmosphere on the Israeli street, as well as on social media, is becoming increasingly heated and threats are emerging and multiplying." It also claims that the private security currently deployed is inadequate. "The physical threat to Eisenkot is increasing every day.".
The authors of the letter accused the responsible authorities of refraining, they claim, from making a decision on close security "for political and foreign reasons," and called for Shin Bet security to be assigned to Liesenkot immediately.
