Liberman Petitions Prosecutor to Investigate Netanyahu for Treason Before Sunday Vote

Israeli voters will choose their government on Sunday, but a new legal dispute has emerged over whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acted lawfully in his dealings with the military. On Monday, Avigdor Liberman, the chairman of the Yisrael Beytenu party, asked Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to examine the prime minister on suspicion of treason. This petition does not confirm any wrongdoing, nor does it guarantee that a formal investigation will begin.

The request stems from a report by broadcaster N12 on Sunday. The outlet stated that Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir clashed over a proposed military operation against Iran. According to the report, the disagreement occurred just two days before the national election. Liberman argues that the prime minister attempted to force a military confrontation to disrupt the voting process. In a social media post, he labeled this behavior a betrayal of the state and its security apparatus.

Liberman told 103FM on Monday that he would formally approach the attorney-general. He criticized the prime minister’s unpredictability, noting that Netanyahu previously claimed to have destroyed Iran's bombs while now dropping bombs on Tel Aviv. "The man has gone off the rails," Liberman said. He asserted that relations between the military and political leadership are currently at their most strained point. Liberman maintained that any action with the potential to trigger a large-scale war should require a decision from the full government, not just the prime minister and the chief of staff.

Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected the characterization of a strained relationship. He stated that coordination among the prime minister, himself, and the IDF has been complete since he assumed office. Katz called reports of internal friction entirely false. He emphasized that Israel has no intention of starting an attack on Iran before the elections conclude. The minister noted that the government has clearly signaled it would respond with great force if Iran initiated an attack, but he denied any proactive plan for the immediate future.

Katz accused opposition figures of using the reports to attack the prime minister and cast doubt on their strategic judgment. He argued that the timing of these accusations is designed to create confusion during a period when the government cannot openly discuss the details of the Iranian issue. Katz described the effort as shameful and irresponsible. Despite the political pressure, he stated that the government will overcome the situation.

The core of the dispute lies in the degree of autonomy the prime minister holds over military decisions during an election cycle. Liberman believes the chief of staff has a duty to prevent the military from being used for political purposes. Katz believes the reports are a political tool. The attorney-general's office has not yet confirmed whether it will open a file on the matter. The petition stands as a formal request rather than an automatic legal trigger. Voters will head to the polls on Sunday to resolve the political question, while the legal question awaits a decision from the prosecutor's office.