A ministerial committee has been established to probe a possible decrease in protection for cabinet ministers, to cut expense and actual security precautions.

During the Sunday cabinet session, Minister (Yisrael Beitenu) Dr. Uzi Landau questioned by he needs two security guards when he goes to walk his dog or to visit a relative.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu cautioned Landau, a former public security minister, explaining the times we live in are complicated from a security point of view and decisions must be made responsibly. The prime minister acknowledged that at times, what we see appears absurd but in actuality, we often do not see the entire picture.

He reminded his colleagues that the increased security is the result of reality that a minister was assassinated, referring to Minister of Tourism Rechavam Ze’evi HY”D. Ze’evi, who was murdered in a lobby of a Jerusalem hotel, a minister who refused to have security agents protecting him. Since the assassination, the decision regarding security is left to the Shin Bet, not a minister.

Netanyahu reminded Landau that decisions pertaining to security are not for the cabinet to make, but the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet). Mr. Netanyahu, who is responsible for the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) rejected Landau’s interpretation of exaggerated security, but it was agreed that a ministerial committee would investigate the situation and make recommendations based on factual data.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)