developing· Politics· Updated 17:21

Netanyahu and Eisenkot Hold Security Briefing Amid Tensions

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Unity Party Chairman Gadi Eisenkot met on Thursday for a political-security briefing at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. The meeting, which also included the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, Major General Guy Marzano, was upgraded to a direct discussion with Netanyahu after initially being scheduled as a briefing solely with the Military Secretary.

3 newsrooms · 1 language · since 12:02

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What happened

01Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Unity Party Chairman Gadi Eisenkot met on Thursday for a security briefing in Jerusalem.
02The Prime Minister's Military Secretary, Major General Guy Marzano, participated in the joint political-security discussion.
03Eisenkot's office had repeatedly requested the briefing since the start of the week without receiving a response from Netanyahu's office.
04On Wednesday, Eisenkot contacted Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to demand her intervention to compel Netanyahu to hold the update.
05The meeting was changed to a direct discussion with Netanyahu after his office canceled an initial plan for Eisenkot to meet only with Marzano.
06Eisenkot warned Netanyahu against dangerous moves that could place security chiefs in a difficult constitutional conflict.
07Netanyahu criticized Eisenkot's public statements as irresponsible and an attempt to politicize security matters.
08The Knesset approved a temporary Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, but the appointment of its chairman has been delayed.

The meeting followed repeated, unsuccessful requests from Eisenkot's office since the beginning of the week to schedule a security update. On Wednesday, Eisenkot contacted Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to demand her intervention to compel Netanyahu to hold the briefing. A meeting was subsequently scheduled between Eisenkot and Marzano for Thursday at 12:00 PM, but Netanyahu's office canceled that arrangement shortly after it became public, requesting instead that the Prime Minister participate directly.

Prior to the meeting, Eisenkot had publicly warned Netanyahu against making dangerous moves that could harm democracy and place security chiefs in a difficult constitutional conflict before a new government is sworn in. Netanyahu criticized Eisenkot's public statements, calling them irresponsible and an attempt to politicize security matters. Amid these developments, the Knesset approved a temporary Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, though the appointment of its chairman has been delayed.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 17:51

Latest report: Haaretz. Read Haaretz’s original