Sohlberg Seeks Clear Rules for Protecting Threatened Election Candidates

Central Elections Committee chair Noam Sohlberg asked National Security Adviser Shmuel Ben Ezra to clarify and publish rules for protecting threatened election candidates. His letter followed inquiries involving party leaders who are not Knesset members and whom police had reportedly classified as threatened. Sohlberg did not address individual cases, but asked who is authorized to designate a person as threatened, which body must provide protection and what standards apply. He said the advisory committee on dignitary protection and the relevant ministerial committee should consider distinctions among state symbols, ministers, lawmakers and candidates outside those categories.