The Prime Minister's Office announced on Saturday that security measures surrounding Deputy Minister Almog Cohen and his residence have been significantly strengthened. This decision follows the receipt of concrete threats against the deputy minister and his family, which included explicit messages containing death threats.
To address the heightened risk, the PMO assigned the task of reinforcing security to the Magen unit. The protective framework now involves coordinated efforts by both the Shin Bet, also known as the Israel Security Agency, and the Israel Police. A dedicated security guard has been stationed in the vicinity of Cohen's home, while his family members are receiving close police escort to ensure their safety during daily activities.
This escalation in security protocols comes at a time of increased public tension. Over the past week, an indictment was filed against Raz Weinberger, a 49-year-old resident of Ein HaHoresh. The charges relate to 21 posts he made on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. According to the legal documents, these posts contained calls for the murder of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, various ministers, members of the Knesset, and supporters of the government.
In one notable instance, Weinberger responded to a post on Almog Cohen's account with a particularly graphic threat. He wrote that Cohen's parents should watch him being beheaded and his head thrown to Gazans to play soccer with. The indictment details this and other similar statements as part of the broader pattern of aggressive rhetoric directed at the government and its officials.
Deputy Minister Cohen's office issued a statement addressing the situation. They noted that they do not typically comment on the specific security aspects concerning the deputy minister and his family. However, they affirmed that Cohen intends to continue serving the citizens of the State of Israel without any fear, signaling his commitment to his role despite the personal risks.
In a separate but related development, senior sources confirmed to the news outlet Walla that responsibility for the security of Gadi Eisenkot, the chairman of the Yashar party, will be transferred to the Shin Bet's State VIP Protection Unit, known as Unit 730. This administrative shift comes after months of dispute regarding the composition and management of his security detail.
The decision to transfer Eisenkot's protection also follows recent threats made against his family. The change in security command is intended to provide a more unified and professional approach to safeguarding the prominent political figure during a period of heightened vulnerability.
The reinforcement of security for the Eisenkot family was triggered after the Yashar party filed a police complaint against Yossi Cohen. The party alleges that Cohen threatened Gadi Eisenkot's wife, Chana, during a protest held outside their home in Herzliya. The complaint provides specific details about the verbal exchanges that took place during the demonstration.
According to the police complaint, Yossi Cohen addressed Chana Eisenkot directly, stating, "You will not live, you will be next to your son." Prior to this remark, he had directed the comment at Gadi Eisenkot himself, saying, "You murdered your son." These remarks were made in reference to the death of the couple's son, Gal, who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip in December 2023.
These incidents highlight the growing personal stakes for political figures in Israel as public discourse becomes increasingly intense. The involvement of both the Shin Bet and the police in these cases underscores the government's commitment to ensuring the safety of its senior officials and their families in the face of targeted threats.
