Liberman files treason demand against Netanyahu 48 hours before vote

Avigdor Liberman, the leader of Yisrael Beytenu, formally requested on Monday that Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara open a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The petition cites suspicion of treason. This legal step does not confirm wrongdoing, nor does it guarantee that an investigation will commence.

The move follows a report published by N12 on Sunday. The broadcaster detailed a dispute between Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir. They allegedly clashed over a proposed military operation that could have triggered a direct confrontation with Iran. This reported friction occurred two days before Israel's scheduled election on October 27.

Liberman articulated his position on the social media platform X on Sunday. He argued that Netanyahu attempted to force military action to prevent the vote from taking place. The opposition leader described the alleged conduct as a betrayal of the state and its security apparatus. He maintained that the chief of staff has a specific duty to prevent the military from serving political ends and to shield soldiers from unnecessary danger.

On Monday, Liberman appeared on 103FM to confirm he was approaching the attorney-general. He characterized the prime minister's behavior as erratic. "The man has gone off the rails," Liberman stated. "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 added that relations between the military and political leadership were at their most strained point in history.

Liberman contended that Netanyahu sought to provoke a miscalculation with Iran. He emphasized that any action with the potential to lead Israel into war requires a formal government decision. He expressed confidence that the chief of staff would insist on upholding the law in this context.

Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected the accusations on Monday. He stated there was no strain between the IDF and the political leadership. Katz asserted that coordination among the prime minister, himself, and the military on the Iran issue has been complete since he took office. He described the security achievements as historic.

Katz stated unequivocally that Israel had no intention of initiating an attack on Iran before the elections. He noted that the government had made clear it would respond with great force if Iran attacked. He called reports on the matter entirely false and accused opposition figures of exploiting the situation to attack the prime minister. Katz labeled the effort "shameful and irresponsible" and concluded, "We will overcome this too."