Yashar party leader MK Gadi Eisenkot on Wednesday sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging him to exercise extra caution and responsibility when making security and national decisions until a new government is formed.
He also appealed to Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to intervene to ensure he receives regular security briefings from the prime minister.
Eisenkot's letters came after a Tuesday N12 report that a dispute between Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir over potential military action in Iran had resurfaced.
In his letter to Netanyahu, Eisenkot wrote: "I demand that you act with national responsibility during this sensitive period. "
"Exercise restraint and caution against dangerous moves that can wait until a new government, which enjoys the confidence of the Knesset, is sworn in."
"Do not desecrate the people's trust in government institutions and the decision-making process," he added.
Amid the political deadlock between Netanyahu's bloc and the bloc seeking to replace him, a new government has yet to be formed following the October 27 elections. Netanyahu will continue serving as caretaker prime minister until a new government is established.
Eisenkot was granted the mandate to form the next government by President Isaac Herzog and has 28 days from Sunday to form a government, with the option of requesting a 14-day extension.
The 26th Knesset was sworn in on Tuesday, despite the ongoing coalition negotiations.
Eisenkot seeks attorney-general's intervention to secure regular security briefings
In Eisenkot's letter to the A-G, he requested she intervene to ensure he receives regular security briefings from Netanyahu on the current threat assessment, "to ensure effective oversight, maintain a proper national decision-making process, and safeguard security interests."
By law, the prime minister is required to provide the opposition leader with a security briefing at least once a month. Eisenkot made the request because no new opposition leader has been officially appointed to replace Yair Lapid, while coalition negotiations continue.
"Under the current legal circumstances, there is currently no opposition leader. Therefore, in the absence of a newly appointed opposition leader, and as the lawmaker who has been tasked by the president with forming a government, I believe I should receive regular, structured, and comprehensive security briefings, as well as access to intelligence assessments," Eisenkot wrote to the A-G.
PMO defends Netanyahu's security decisions, rejects Eisenkot's criticism
The Prime Minister's Office subsequently issued a response defending Netanyahu's security decisions, stating that all decisions made by the government "were based solely on security considerations and in full coordination with the security establishment."
"They have brought unprecedented achievements for the State of Israel, and this will continue to be the case in the future," the statement said.
"Instead of sowing fear and division, people should act responsibly," it added.
The PMO also called Eisenkot's letter "an irresponsible move that publicly discusses sensitive security matters."
"This is a transparent attempt to politicize Israel's national security issues," the statement continued.
Eisenkot pushed back against Netanyahu's response, questioning why the prime minister had refused his request to "receive operational briefings through official channels, as is customary."
Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of delaying key Knesset defense committee meeting
The Yashar leader also questioned why Netanyahu was attempting to delay the convening of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee until the following week.
"I will not allow a vacuum in oversight of a government that has lost the confidence of the Knesset."
"I will not allow even the slightest deviation from security considerations," Eisenkot added.
Follow us on GoogleSource: The Jerusalem Post · KESHET NEEV
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