Liberman demands treason probe into Netanyahu over pre-election military dispute

Voters in Israel face a potential legal fight over the conduct of the prime minister just days before the October 27 election. Avigdor Liberman, chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, has asked Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a criminal investigation into Benjamin Netanyahu. The core of the allegation is suspicion of treason.

Liberman’s demand does not confirm that wrongdoing occurred, nor does it mean an investigation has begun. It stems from a report by N12 broadcast on Sunday. That report detailed a clash between Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir. The two leaders disagreed on a proposed military operation that could have triggered a confrontation with Iran.

The timing of the reported dispute places it just two days before the scheduled vote. Liberman argues that Netanyahu tried to delay the election by dragging the country into a military confrontation. In a post on X/Twitter on Sunday, Liberman called the alleged conduct a betrayal of the state and its security. He maintained that Zamir had a duty to stop the military from serving political ends and to shield soldiers from unnecessary risk.

On Monday, Liberman spoke to 103FM to explain his next steps. He said he would formally request the attorney-general’s office to review the treason allegations. He criticized the prime minister’s decision-making process, noting the relationship between the military and political leadership is currently strained. "The man has gone off the rails," Liberman said. "One day he's preparing a crypto bomb for us, and the next day an atomic bomb."

Liberman contended that Netanyahu sought to provoke a miscalculation with Iran. He pointed to the legal requirement that actions potentially leading to war must be discussed and decided by the government. He quoted the law to emphasize that the chief of staff should insist on these procedures being followed.

Defense Minister Israel Katz pushed back against Liberman’s accusations. He stated there was no strain between the IDF and the political leadership. Katz described the coordination on the Iran issue as complete since taking office. He rejected the idea that Israel planned an attack before the vote. "All reports on the matter are entirely false," Katz said. He characterized the opposition’s use of these reports as an attempt to cast doubt on the government’s judgment.

Katz added that the government will continue to respond with force if Iran attacks. He described the current effort by opposition figures to exploit media reports as shameful and irresponsible. The dispute highlights the tension between military planning and political timing in the weeks leading up to the election.