Liberman demands treason probe of Netanyahu before Sunday vote
The request follows a reported dispute over a potential military operation against Iran that could trigger a wider conflict.
By Priya Marino ·
Avigdor Liberman, leader of the Yisrael Beytenu party, asked Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara on Monday to open a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The request cites suspicion of treason but does not confirm any wrongdoing or guarantee that a formal inquiry will begin.
The demand follows a Sunday report by N12 that Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir clashed over a proposed military operation. The plan could have initiated a confrontation with Iran just two days before the October 27 election.
On X, Liberman argued that Netanyahu was attempting to push Israel into military action to prevent the vote from occurring. He labeled the conduct a betrayal of the state and asserted that the military chief has a duty to prevent political use of the armed forces.
Speaking on 103FM, Liberman described the prime minister’s actions as erratic. "The man has gone off the rails," he said. "One day he's preparing a crypto bomb for us, and the next day an atomic bomb. He just said he had destroyed all of Iran's bombs, and now he's dropping bombs on Tel Aviv?" He stated that relations between the military and political leadership are currently at their most strained due to efforts to provoke a miscalculation with Iran.
Liberman emphasized that the chief of staff must ensure any action leading to war or large-scale confrontation is decided by the government. He believes the military leader is strong enough to uphold the law against political pressure.
Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected the accusations on Monday, stating there is no strain between the IDF and the political leadership. He said coordination on the Iran issue has been complete since he took office, citing unprecedented security achievements. Katz asserted that Israel has no intention of initiating an attack before the elections and called reports of a dispute entirely false.
Katz accused opposition figures of exploiting the reports to cast doubt on the government's judgment at a time when details about Iran are sensitive. He called the effort shameless and irresponsible, adding that the government will overcome the challenge.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
