Netanyahu Retains War Powers Amid Candidate for Prime Minister's Call for Restraint

President Yitzhak Herzog has tasked the Candidate for Prime Minister with forming a new government after he secured the support of 67 Knesset members, while 46 parliamentarians backed Benjamin Netanyahu's continued term. However, Netanyahu remains Prime Minister with the powers of the caretaker government until a new coalition is established. A key issue is whether this transitional cabinet can initiate a war with Iran, as Israeli law does not explicitly prohibit such actions. The Basic Law on Government stipulates that initiating a war or a major military operation likely to lead to war requires a government decision, a rule that applies to interim cabinets, according to The Jerusalem Post. The Supreme Court has urged outgoing governments to exercise restraint, particularly when their political support is limited, advising caution on long-term decisions. While immediate security threats allow for broader executive action, delaying operations without compromising national defense raises significant questions.

Israel has seen military operations under caretaker governments before, including Ehud Olmert's "Cast Lead" in Gaza in December 2008, Netanyahu's "Guardian of the Walls" in May 2021, and Yair Lapid's "Breaking Dawn" against Islamic Jihad in August 2022. However, a potential campaign against Iran, especially if aimed at regime change, would be of a vastly different scale. On Wednesday evening, November 11, the Candidate for Prime Minister sent a letter to Netanyahu urging him to refrain from postponable decisions until the new government is formed. He warned that actions without immediate threat could erode public trust and present constitutional dilemmas for security leadership. The Prime Minister's office rejected these concerns, stating that decisions are made solely on security grounds.

Disagreements also extend to relations with Washington. Donald Trump reportedly sees no immediate need for renewed strikes on Iran, hoping for an agreement, while Netanyahu believes only regime change can eliminate the Iranian threat. A meeting of the narrow security cabinet is scheduled for November 15, with the previous one held on October 5. The military has been ordered to increase readiness for a potential strike, though this does not confirm a decision for war has been made. Meanwhile, the Candidate for Prime Minister's bloc is strengthening its position in the Knesset, with representatives gaining control of key committees. Avigdor Lieberman is set to lead the interim Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and Liran Avisar Ben-Horin the Finance Committee. Lieberman will be the sole bloc leader able to directly discuss security and diplomatic matters with Netanyahu. In a separate political development, MK Limor Son Har-Melech of Otzma Yehudit has proposed legislation to cancel the Oslo Accords, the Hebron Agreement, and the Wye River Memorandum, and to reclaim territories transferred under these agreements.