During a hearing held Tuesday at the Supreme Court, the bench addressed a petition filed by the Democrats party against the head of the Israel Security Agency (ISA) regarding the decision not to provide close protection to party chairman Yair Golan. The petition was filed last week, including requests for urgent interim orders, citing what the party described as a rise in concrete threats against Golan's life ahead of the elections.
During the hearing, classified security assessments were presented to the judges ex parte, allowing security officials to present the latest risk evaluations regarding the candidate. The party's legal counsel, Adv. Omri Segev, argued that the lack of protection places Golan in real danger, asserting that the candidate faces explicit death threats. Party CEO Omer Lubaton Granot reiterated the party's belief that the chairman's life is at risk.
Conversely, Supreme Court Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit emphasized that the court lacks the authority or intent to intervene in the professional judgment of security officials. According to the judge, the ISA possesses inherent expertise in risk assessment and personal security, and the court is not the professional body for evaluating such matters. Justice Amit noted that the information presented indicates the issue is under ongoing monitoring. As part of its security response, the ISA committed to the court to instruct the Israel Police regarding Golan’s protection, in accordance with updated risk assessments conducted regularly. Justice Amit added that the service could assist the party in communicating with the police for specific event security. Following the presentation of the ISA's position and its commitment to coordinate with the police, Justice Amit recommended that the Democrats withdraw the petition. The party stated it would review the proposal and request a reasoned judgment if the security response does not meet its requirements. The case illustrates the ongoing tension between protecting election candidates and the legal principle of non-intervention in the professional authority of security agencies.