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Armed guards for Eisenkot
The Shin Bet authorized private guards for Gadi Eisenkot to carry arms while the agency itself would not assign an official protection team, a decision made by David Zini as Israel prepared for elections on 27 October.
“antes de las elecciones del 27 de octubre”
The Noticias de Israel account says the authorization was taken amid “una creciente preocupación por posibles episodios de violencia política antes de las elecciones del 27 de octubre,” and that Zini assumed responsibility for not providing a security device directly to Eisenkot.
Reuters reported that Netanyahu, in a telephone interview with Israel’s Channel 14, said Iran tried to kill one of his sons, adding that the alleged threat explained the security arrangements around his family.
In the same Reuters report, Netanyahu said he told Shin Bet chief David Zini that “appropriate security should be provided for any prime ministerial candidate,” linking the Eisenkot security dispute to the broader election context.
Netanyahu’s claim and backlash
Netanyahu told Israel’s Channel 14 that “Iran tried to kill, to murder one of my sons,” while giving no details on when the alleged plot took place, which son was targeted, or how close it came to being carried out.
News24 likewise quoted Netanyahu saying “Something incredible happened: Iran targeted one of my sons,” and described the claim as coming during discussion of reports that Shin Bet declined to provide a security detail for Gadi Eisenkot.
The Reuters report said it was not immediately clear which of Netanyahu’s sons he was referring to, and noted that Netanyahu’s elder son Yair lives in Miami.
Reuters also reported that Israeli media had earlier said Zini declined to provide security for Eisenkot and told the country’s election authority there was no plot to harm him, framing the dispute as part of heightened tensions since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in February.
Security, elections, and risk
The Shin Bet authorization for Eisenkot’s private bodyguards to carry weapons was described as coming “en la cara de crecientes amenazas” ahead of elections, with Channel 12 reporting that Shin Bet director David Zini initially rejected an armed security request.
“en la cara de crecientes amenazas”
Enlace Judío says Zini later stated he was the “sole person responsible” for the decision not to assign a security detail to Eisenkot, and that he consulted with professionals while the Central Electoral Committee president Judge Noam Sohlberg said Zini informed him there is no information suggesting a plot to harm the Yashar leader.
In parallel, Netanyahu’s Iran accusation was presented by Reuters as underscoring heightened tensions since the February start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, with the prime minister’s coalition trailing in opinion polls two months before the October 27 general election.
Haaretz framed the Shin Bet refusal to grant an official security detail to Eisenkot as shocking Israelis, describing it as raising “a chilling question about the election,” while the Haaretz Today page centered on the election’s security controversy.