Netanyahu Meets Eisenkot Amid Security Briefing and Iran Tensions

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yachad party, announced on Thursday that they would meet for a political and security briefing. Eisenkot had requested official information regarding the interim government's military decisions, amid concerns over actions that could lead to renewed conflict with Iran. This meeting occurs as the appointment of Avigdor Lieberman as chairman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is being delayed.

A joint statement from Netanyahu and Eisenkot indicated the meeting would take place in the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, with Netanyahu's military secretary, Gai Markiano, in attendance. The meeting follows accusations exchanged between the two leaders the previous day concerning security decisions made by the caretaker government.

Meanwhile, the newspaper Haaretz reported that Netanyahu had pressured for a delay in Lieberman's assumption of the interim Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairmanship. While the committee's formation, along with the Finance Committee, was approved as part of parliamentary arrangements, Lieberman's election as chairman was postponed. The report stated that Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz opposed Lieberman's immediate election. Representatives of the anti-Netanyahu bloc were informed that Ohana would delay the committee's final formation until the following week if they insisted on Wednesday's election. A compromise was reached, allowing the committee's formation to be announced, with the vote for its chairman deferred to the following Monday.

Lieberman had expressed his intention to summon the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, and the Inspector General of Police, Dani Levi, to investigate allegations of fraud in ballot boxes in Arab towns, purportedly directed by Netanyahu's circle to obstruct election results. Eisenkot had previously urged Netanyahu to refrain from "dangerous steps that can be postponed until a new government is sworn in," warning that operating security forces without immediate, direct threats could have "devastating consequences for Israeli democracy and public trust." He also asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to intervene and compel Netanyahu to provide a formal security briefing.

Netanyahu responded to Eisenkot's message by calling it an "irresponsible step to discuss sensitive security issues publicly," deeming it an "obvious attempt to inject politics into Israeli national security matters." Defense Minister Yisrael Katz joined the criticism, asserting that neither he nor Netanyahu require "the approval of the opposition or any judicial body to issue instructions to the army." Lieberman also commented that the caretaker government is not authorized to make decisions that could drag Israel into war without parliamentary oversight or full consensus from all security bodies.

These developments coincide with ongoing Israeli military preparations for a potential conflict with Iran. Public broadcaster Kan 11 revealed that the Security Cabinet had directed the military to increase its readiness for a possible attack on Iran, despite not having met for five weeks. Earlier, Haaretz reported disagreements within the Mossad regarding military operations against Iran pushed by Netanyahu, which were supported by Mossad chief Ronen Hoffman but opposed by Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. Senior Mossad officials reportedly expressed reservations about the timing of these operations in relation to the elections. CNN had previously cited an Israeli security source stating that Zamir had warned U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kahlon that attacking Iran could disrupt and delay the Israeli elections.