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Democrats Party Chairman Yair Golan Seeks Court-Ordered Shin Bet Protection Ahead of October Election
By Drooid · · How we work
Petition for Immediate State Security
The centrist Democrats party, led by chairman Yair Golan, filed a petition with Israel’s High Court of Justice on a Tuesday, asking the court to compel Shin Bet chief David Zini and the government to grant Golan state-provided personal protection. The filing seeks an urgent hearing, an interim order for protection until the case is resolved, and a requirement that the state submit a preliminary response within 72 hours. The request follows three written appeals that received no reply, including a letter sent directly to Zini on September 22 with a response deadline of September 27.
Threats and Risk Assessment
The petition cites multiple explicit threats, including online posts calling for Golan’s death or the hanging of his family members. It also notes that Golan’s name appeared in a death-threat letter attached to a brick thrown at Channel 12’s news studios on July 27, making him the only party leader named in that incident. Israel Police elevated Golan’s personal risk rating to 4 on a six-point scale, a “high” level identical to that assigned to opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot.
Legal and Security Framework
Under the Shin Bet Law, the agency is responsible for protecting individuals designated by the government. In late August, a public advisory committee recommended Shin Bet protection for Eisenkot but not for Golan, a decision the Democrats party described as politically motivated. Earlier this month, the Ministerial Committee for Shin Bet Affairs authorized chief Zini to determine security arrangements for party leaders who do not hold public office and are therefore not automatically entitled to state protection, pending the swearing-in of the next Knesset.
Official Positions and Arguments
The petition contends that safeguarding Golan is essential to preserving Israel’s democratic institutions. Shin Bet has not publicly responded to the petition, and the government’s position on the request remains unspecified.
Upcoming Judicial Timeline
The petition requests that the High Court schedule an urgent hearing before the October 27 election and that the state provide a preliminary answer within three days of the filing. If granted, the court-ordered protection would remain in effect until the petition’s final resolution.
