Netanyahu and Eisenkot clash over whether Israel should strike Iran again

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot (second from left) and other Israeli officials gather on the day of the inauguration of Israel's 26th parliament, at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on Tuesday. | REUTERS

Nov 13, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading for a showdown with potential replacement Gadi Eisenkot, who fears the caretaker leader may renew strikes on Iran under false pretenses in an effort to cling to power.

In a letter sent on Wednesday, Eisenkot told Netanyahu not to make any major national security decisions during the period of political transition and avoid “dangerous steps that can wait for the swearing in of a new government.” He also asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to help ensure he receives regular security briefings for “effective oversight.”

Netanyahu’s office dismissed Eisenkot’s warnings and insisted that “all decisions made by the government were taken solely out of security considerations and in full coordination with the defense establishment.”

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