Israeli Election Eve: Liberman Demands Treason Inquiry Into Netanyahu

A criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been requested by a leading opposition figure on the eve of Israel's national vote.

Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beytenu party, formally asked Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a probe on suspicion of treason on Monday. The legal filing does not confirm wrongdoing nor guarantee an investigation will proceed. It was issued two days before the October 27 election, following a report by the N12 broadcaster on Sunday.

N12 reported that Netanyahu and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir clashed over a proposed military operation. The plan reportedly risked sparking a direct confrontation with Iran. Liberman argued on the social platform X that the Prime Minister sought to trigger military action to delay or disrupt the voting process. He characterized the move as a betrayal of the state's security interests.

In a Monday interview with 103FM, Liberman criticized the Prime Minister's decision-making process. "The man has gone off the rails," Liberman stated. He cited conflicting signals regarding Iran's capabilities, noting that Netanyahu previously claimed to have destroyed all Iranian bombs while now dropping bombs on Tel Aviv. Liberman asserted that relations between the military and political leadership are currently at their most strained point, blaming Netanyahu for provoking potential miscalculation with Iran. He maintained that any action risking large-scale war requires a full government decision.

Defense Minister Israel Katz disputed the narrative of internal conflict. He stated that coordination between the Prime Minister, himself, and the IDF has been complete since assuming office. Katz declared that Israel had no intention of launching a pre-emptive attack on Iran before the elections. He called reports suggesting otherwise entirely false and described the opposition's use of the dispute as shameful and irresponsible. Katz emphasized that Israel remains prepared to respond forcefully to any Iranian aggression while noting the government's current inability to discuss operational details publicly.

The dispute places the Prime Minister's judgment under legal scrutiny during a critical electoral window. Katz accused opposition figures of casting doubt on leadership during a sensitive period regarding the Iranian threat. The Attorney-General's office has yet to confirm whether it will accept the formal request for a treason investigation.