Liberman Asks Attorney-General to Open Treason Probe Into Netanyahu Ahead of Election

Avigdor Liberman, chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, has called on Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on suspicion of treason, according to a statement issued on Monday. The request does not establish any criminal wrongdoing, and it does not mean that an investigation has been opened.

The demand follows a report by N12 on Sunday. The broadcaster said Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir had clashed over a proposed military operation that could set off a confrontation with Iran. The reported dispute came just two days before Israel's October 27 election.

In a post on X on Sunday, Liberman said he believed Netanyahu was trying to push Israel into military action in order to stop the vote from taking place. He described the alleged conduct as a betrayal of the state and its security. He also argued that the chief of staff has a duty to keep the military from being used for political purposes and to protect soldiers from unnecessary risk.

Speaking to 103FM on Monday, Liberman said he would approach the attorney-general to request the investigation. "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?"

Liberman added that relations between the military and the political leadership have "never been as strained as it is now." He said the situation was the result of Netanyahu's efforts to provoke a miscalculation with Iran.

He also said the chief of staff is strong enough to insist on upholding the law. In his view, any action whose consequences could lead Israel into war or a large-scale confrontation must be subject to a government discussion and decision.

Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected the accusations and said there was no strain between the IDF and the political leadership. He said coordination among the prime minister, himself and the IDF on the Iran issue has been complete since he took office, with what he called unprecedented historic achievements for Israel's security.

Katz said unequivocally that Israel had no intention of initiating an attack on Iran before the elections. He noted that Israel had made clear it would respond with great force if Iran attacked, and he called all reports on the matter entirely false.

He accused opposition figures of exploiting the reports to attack the prime minister and himself and to cast doubt on their judgment. He said this came at a time when, for understandable reasons, the government cannot address the details of the Iranian issue. Katz called the effort "shameful and irresponsible" and added: "We will overcome this too."