Liberman Petitions Attorney-General To Investigate Netanyahu Before Vote

Two days before Israelis go to the polls, Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman has petitioned Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on suspicion of treason. The request, issued Monday, establishes no finding of wrongdoing and does not itself start an inquiry.

Liberman's move follows an N12 report Sunday that Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir had argued over a proposed military operation that could provoke a confrontation with Iran. The alleged dispute surfaced ahead of the October 27 election. On X Sunday, Liberman wrote that Netanyahu appeared to be steering Israel toward military action to prevent the vote from taking place, calling the conduct a betrayal of the state and its security. He also argued the chief of staff must keep the military out of political use and shield soldiers from needless risk.

Speaking to 103FM on Monday, Liberman said he would bring the request to the attorney-general. "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 said ties between the military and political leadership have "never been as strained as it is now," and blamed Netanyahu's effort to provoke a miscalculation with Iran. He added that any step carrying the risk of war or a large-scale confrontation requires government discussion and a decision.

Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected the accusations, saying there is no strain between the IDF and political leadership. He said coordination among the prime minister, himself and the IDF on Iran has been complete since he took office. Katz stated Israel has no plan to strike Iran before the elections and called reports to the contrary entirely false, while accusing opposition figures of exploiting the coverage to cast doubt on their judgment. He labeled that effort "shameful and irresponsible" and added: "We will overcome this too."

Katz also said Israel would answer any Iranian attack with great force. He declined to discuss details of the Iranian file, saying the government cannot address them at this time. The election takes place October 27.