Former Shin Bet official and coordinator for hostages and missing persons Yaron Blum criticized the recommendation to provide extended security for the Netanyahu family in a Thursday interview on 103 FM.
The prime minister’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, requested a security detail for the rest of her life to a ministerial committee, and was ultimately granted a security detail until the end of her husband, Benjamin Netanyahu's life.
Blum objected to the request, arguing that it did not reflect reality.
“To decide on security for someone for 20 years, whether it is Sara Netanyahu or Sara Cohen, it does not matter at all, it is irrelevant, it is not serious, it is delusional,” he said.
“These extensions for the family members of the prime minister are the rarest of exceptions. The ministerial committee that made this decision includes Netanyahu, Yariv Levin, Israel Katz, Itamar Ben Gvir, and Yoav Kisch. What do three-quarters of them even understand about security and the Shin Bet?” Blum asked.
Blum also criticized Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) Head David Zini for “not withstanding the pressure” and recommending lifetime protection.
Decision will be difficult to appeal
He also made clear that if the decision is approved, it will be very difficult to change later.
“There is a problem with this committee; there is no appeal on its decisions. It has enormous influence. Twenty years is not logical. But one must say that, on principle, given the level of threats against the Netanyahu family- there are threats from enemy states, Iran, the proxy groups, the Islamic Jihad, global jihad- the prime minister’s family today is also a target for threats. I am speaking on a principled level, and today, a hostage-taking attack, an attack of revenge against the Netanyahu family, many people would be happy to do that. That is part of the security story today. In these days there is logic to it, but for life there is no logic in it,” Blum said.
He later said that only certain symbols of state and specific ministers are authorized to receive such protection.
“Security also includes escorts, a driver, a dedicated car; it is an unreasonable demand. That is not how it works in the Shin Bet. Unit 730, which is the unit for protecting individuals, secures the seven symbols of state, which are the prime minister, the president of the state, the Knesset speaker, the president of the Supreme Court, the defense minister, the foreign minister and the opposition leader. They are protected by the personal security unit,” Blum explained.
“In parallel, ministers and deputy ministers are protected by the Magen unit, which is a unit in the Prime Minister’s Office, and there the Prime Minister’s Office can decide what and who. This story is not logical; it does not exist, it did not exist, and I assume it will not happen,” he added.
Blum advocates Shin Bet involvement in combating rising crime
Blum then addressed rising crime in Arab society and the new proposal to bring the Shin Bet into the effort alongside the police.
“Absolutely yes. I know this story very well. Twenty percent of the residents of the State of Israel are Arab Israelis. The vast majority want to integrate. Many of my friends do not understand what I am saying, but they want to live in peace; they are in fear of crime families,” he said.
“The Israel Police has not been able to fight crime families since significant tools like Pegasus were taken from them,” Blum said, warning that the danger would spread.
“It is spilling over to us and will reach us. We simply think that a villa is not here; it has arrived, but we do not feel it the way they feel it. They see on their cameras who murdered; they are afraid to say it; they also help wash the crime scene,” he added.
“The Shin Bet cannot intervene on a principled level unless the Shin Bet Law is changed. The law needs to be changed. If the Shin Bet is involved in teams that are very important, such as in harm to symbols of state, for example harm to a local council head, that will change the picture,” Blum said.