JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security and diplomatic briefing with Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party and the politician tasked with forming Israel’s next government, amid growing tensions over the possibility of renewed military action against Iran.
The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on Thursday, lasted more than two hours and was attended by Netanyahu’s military secretary, Major General Guy Markizano.
A joint statement issued after the meeting said Eisenkot had been briefed on the security and diplomatic challenges facing Israel. The two agreed to continue exchanging updates as necessary. No details of the intelligence or operational discussions were made public.
The briefing followed Eisenkot’s demand for regular security updates from Netanyahu. He had also approached Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, seeking intervention after alleging that his earlier requests for briefings had been rejected.
Eisenkot warned Netanyahu against ordering military operations in the absence of a direct and immediate threat, arguing that major security decisions should be approached with restraint while negotiations to form a new government were under way. He cautioned that the use of security forces without an urgent threat could damage public trust in government institutions.
The dispute comes amid reports of disagreements within Israel’s leadership over a possible resumption of military action against Iran. Israeli media have reported tensions between Netanyahu and Israel Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir over the prospect of further operations against Tehran.
Accounts of the intelligence presented during Thursday’s briefing differed. Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu’s side intended to present information highlighting the urgency of renewed action against Iran. However, Channel 13 reported that the military assessment presented at the meeting indicated there was no immediate need for an Israeli strike.
According to the Channel 13 report, Israel should join the fighting if the United States resumes attacks on Iran. These accounts have not been confirmed in the official statement issued after the meeting.
The security concerns have also extended beyond Israel. On November 12, Al Jazeera reported that Israel’s security cabinet had directed the military to step up preparations for a possible attack on Iran. Tehran, meanwhile, warned that any renewed US attack could prompt retaliation against military bases involved in the conflict.
Netanyahu’s office has defended the government’s security decisions, saying they are based on security considerations and coordinated with the security establishment. Defence Minister Israel Katz has also rejected suggestions that military decisions are being driven by political considerations.
Netanyahu remains in office while Eisenkot attempts to form a new coalition following the October 27 parliamentary election. The briefing has brought renewed attention to the question of oversight and accountability for major security decisions during the political transition.
(With input from media reports)