Israeli Cabinet to Discuss Iran Amid Netanyahu's War Powers Dispute

Israel's Ministerial Committee for Political Affairs and Security, known as the "Cabinet," is scheduled to convene next Sunday for the first time since early October. The meeting comes amid escalating tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, head of the "Yesh" party, over accusations that Netanyahu seeks to launch a military strike against Iran. These tensions are amplified by disagreements regarding US support for such an action and Netanyahu's authority to initiate a large-scale conflict while heading an interim government.

Opposition leaders accuse Netanyahu of pushing Israel toward a military confrontation without American consensus and against the advice of military chief Eyal Zamir and security officials. According to estimates from officials within the "Change Bloc," Netanyahu is pursuing a unilateral military operation against Iran, despite an unclear stance from US President Donald Trump, as reported by Yedioth Ahronoth. One opposition official alleged that Netanyahu aims to drag Israel into war during the transitional period to thwart efforts to form a new government led by Eisenkot.

The Cabinet's last meeting on October 4th resulted in increased alert levels concerning Iran, anticipating potential Israeli strikes or Iranian attacks. Legally, Israeli law permits interim governments to make military decisions, including initiating war, as stipulated in Basic Law: Government Article 40. Former officials and legal experts note that restrictions on interim governments primarily concern appointments and budgets, while security and foreign policy powers remain broad.

However, former Prime Minister Yair Lapid argues that an interim government should not make fundamental changes to the status quo. Precedents like Operation "Guardian of the Walls" in May 2021 under Netanyahu's interim government and Operation "Breaking Dawn" in August 2022 by Lapid's interim government, initiated without full Cabinet approval, highlight the legal capacity for military action. The debate centers on the nature and justification of such operations: whether they address an immediate, unpostponable security threat or can be deferred until a new government is formed.

Eisenkot sent a letter to Netanyahu on Wednesday urging extreme caution and responsibility in national security decisions. He stated that the current government lacks Knesset confidence and should avoid postponing serious military actions until a new government is established. Eisenkot highlighted that Netanyahu leads an interim government supported by only 46 Knesset members and warned against using political or external considerations in security decisions. He cautioned that deploying security forces without an immediate, unpostponable threat could have severe consequences for Israeli democracy and public trust.

Eisenkot also requested regular security and intelligence updates from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to effectively oversee decision-making during the transition. He emphasized that changing governments requires careful consideration of executive powers and that briefing the opposition leader on intelligence assessments is standard practice. Netanyahu's office rejected Eisenkot's accusations, asserting that government decisions are security-driven and coordinated with the security establishment. They accused Eisenkot of politicizing national security and attempting to sow fear and division, urging him to join Netanyahu's government instead of forming one with parties they described as pro-terrorist.