Netanyahu Briefs Opposition Leader Eisenkot Amid Security Tensions

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Gadi Eisenkot, the chairman of the opposition party Yisrael Beiteinu, on Thursday afternoon in Jerusalem for a security and political briefing. The meeting, which was jointly announced by both leaders earlier that day, followed a prolonged public dispute and came amid reports of disagreements between Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir regarding renewed military action against Iran. Initially, Eisenkot was scheduled for a briefing with only the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, Guy Mar'ozano, but this was later expanded to include Netanyahu.

Under Israeli law, the Prime Minister is obligated to update the opposition leader on security matters monthly. However, with the new coalition government not yet formed, Yair Lapid technically remains the opposition leader. Eisenkot, who received the mandate to form a government from President Isaac Herzog on Sunday, stated that his requests for official updates had been denied. Tensions escalated on Tuesday with the swearing-in of the Knesset, when Netanyahu warned of external security threats and internal reliance on Arab parties. Eisenkot subsequently canceled coalition negotiations between his party and Likud, citing the "disgrace of the Knesset swearing-in ceremony and what remains of statehood."

Earlier on Thursday, Eisenkot sent Netanyahu a letter urging him to "demonstrate national responsibility" and avoid dangerous actions, such as a preemptive strike on Iran, before a new government is sworn in. The Prime Minister's office called the letter "irresponsible" for publicly discussing sensitive security issues. Eisenkot also approached Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, requesting she order his continuous updates. Defense Minister Israel Katz asserted that the current government is responsible for security decisions, while Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, cautioned that a transitional government lacks the authority for war-triggering decisions without parliamentary oversight.

The Arrangements Committee approved Lieberman's appointment as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Thursday, though the final vote is postponed until Monday, preventing him from accessing classified materials until then. The Ministerial Committee for Political-Security Affairs is scheduled to convene on Sunday, its first meeting in over six weeks. As of the time of reporting, no details about the content of the meeting between Netanyahu and Eisenkot have been released, nor have there been reports of ongoing negotiations between Yisrael Beiteinu and Likud. Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension.