Eisenkot meets Netanyahu in bid to avoid Iran strikes

Detailed summary

Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a security briefing amid opposition concerns that the government could launch a military operation against Iran.

Yashar chair Gadi Eisenkot met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a security briefing on Thursday amid concerns that the outgoing government could launch a large-scale military operation against Iran during the government's transition period.

What happened: The meeting, at Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem, was their first security briefing since the Oct. 27 elections. Before then, Netanyahu was required to hold periodic security briefings for the opposition leader, who was Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid under the previous Netanyahu government.

Eisenkot was tapped Sunday by President Isaac Herzog to form the next government. He has 28 days to complete the task and can request a 14-day extension. Until a new government is sworn in, the current government remains in office and is responsible for keeping the country running and handling urgent security matters. However, it is expected to exercise restraint, particularly on consequential decisions without a current parliamentary mandate.

In a letter to Netanyahu on Wednesday, Eisenkot urged the prime minister to refrain from “dangerous moves that can wait until a new government, enjoying the confidence of the Knesset, is sworn in.” He warned, “Deploying security forces in the absence of a direct and immediate threat that cannot be deferred could have devastating consequences for Israeli democracy and public trust in government institutions.”

Why it matters: Ynet reported on Monday about a reportedly tense phone conversation between the Israeli prime minister and President Donald Trump over the weekend. It said the conversation focused on Iran, with Netanyahu pushing to resume military action against the Tehran regime while Trump favored maintaining a diplomatic approach and allowing negotiations with Iran to continue.

Netanyahu's office denied that the conversation had been strained. However, Al-Monitor had reported as early as Nov.

Addressing the Knesset on Tuesday during its new members' swearing-in ceremony, Netanyahu…

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