Security around Barak tightened
Shin Bet decides to double number of guards protecting defense minister, apparently due to evaluation of situation
The decision was likely made following an evaluation of the situation, rather than due to a concrete threat.
Barak is the second senior official to have security around him tightened. Several days ago, the police received a letter threatening the life of Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen. Immediately upon receiving the letter, the police opened a joint investigation with Shin Bet units. In addition, security measures were tightened around the commissioner.
The intimidation letter read, "You have been marked for the world to come. Your judgment day is near." It was not signed or addressed. The police estimate those behind the letter are extreme right-wing activists, who are acting in response to the construction freeze in the West Bank and the commissioner's comments against the settler rioters.
Former police and Shin Bet seniors believe Cohen has no real reason to worry and estimated that the person behind the letter will be caught.
Nimrod Firstenberg, a former Shin Bet senior official told Ynet that the threat "should be taken seriously. We have the technological and human means to collect information and try to locate the origin of the letter. One can understand according to the hand writing whether the person is eccentric or with an ideological background."
Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report
