Israel Election: Liberman Requests Treason Probe of Netanyahu Over Military Dispute

Two days before the Israeli election scheduled for October 27, 2026, Avigdor Liberman formally requested a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The chairman of Yisrael Beytenu asked Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a probe on suspicion of treason regarding a reported conflict with military leadership.

Liberman’s demand followed a Sunday report by N12. The broadcaster alleged that Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir clashed over a proposed military operation. The plan reportedly risked sparking a confrontation with Iran. The dispute occurred just before the national vote, a timing Liberman said suggested political motive.

In a post on X, Liberman argued that Netanyahu attempted to push Israel into military action to disrupt the election. He labeled the conduct a betrayal of the state’s security. The opposition leader stated that the chief of staff has a duty to prevent the military from serving political ends. He also emphasized the need to shield soldiers from unnecessary risks during such sensitive periods.

Speaking to 103FM on Monday, Liberman explained his rationale for approaching the Attorney-General. He described Netanyahu’s behavior as erratic, noting that the Prime Minister had previously threatened with a "crypto bomb" before claiming to have destroyed Iran’s atomic weapons. Liberman criticized the inconsistency of dropping bombs on Tel Aviv while claiming such victories. He characterized the current strain between the military and political leadership as the worst in recent history, attributing it to Netanyahu’s efforts to provoke a miscalculation with Iran.

Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected the accusations. He stated that there was no strain between the IDF and the political leadership. Katz claimed that coordination on the Iran issue has been complete since he took office, citing historic security achievements. He said unequivocally that Israel had no intention of initiating an attack on Iran before the elections. He noted that the government had prepared to respond with force if Iran struck first, calling reports to the contrary entirely false. Katz described the opposition’s move as shamefully irresponsible, stating that the government would overcome the challenge.

The request for an investigation does not confirm criminal wrongdoing or indicate that a formal probe has already begun. The election is set to take place on Sunday, October 27, 2026. Liberman’s petition arrives at a time when the government says it cannot address the details of the Iranian issue due to operational security. Katz added that opposition figures were exploiting the reports to attack the Prime Minister and cast doubt on their judgment.