The around-the-clock protection given to former Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert has been canceled according to a Yediot Achronot report. This appears to be the result of the Committee addressing security for state officials headed by Yosef Ciechanover.

In line with the recommendations of the committee, Ehud Olmert was entitled to security seven years from the last dates he served. His period as prime minister ended at the end of 2009 and he entered prison in February 2016, prior to term of protection elapsed.

Barak joked about this on a Channel 10 TV program, saying: “First there was security, one third was removed for good behavior and because of resource constraints, the last guard was left to Yair to protect him from neighbors who also have dogs and radical leftist tendencies” , Referring to the incident with his dog in front of the neighbor.

Security sources said in response to Yediot Achronot that the decisions on this matter are according to the law: “There is a law here, a ministerial committee and a Ciechanover committee that define periods of security for former position holders and this is determined by evaluating the situation and threat level at the time.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)