Netanyahu is considering renewed attacks on Iran as the Israeli political transition deepens.
Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly raised the prospect of another military strike against Iran during talks with Prime Minister-designate Gadi Eisenkot, while hiding information about a simultaneous diplomatic mission to Washington by Mossad head Roman Goffman.
According to Channel 12, Netanyahu used Thursday's meeting to share intelligence about Iran, which one source said could change Eisenkot's assessment of the interim prime minister's intentions toward Tehran.
What Eisenkot reportedly did not know was that Goffman had already traveled to Washington to advocate for renewed military action against Iran.
Following the meeting, Eisenkot publicly demanded strict oversight of Netanyahu's outgoing administration, and warned against attempts to exploit national security decisions for political gain.
The confrontation comes after Netanyahu's coalition lost its parliamentary majority in Knesset elections on October 27, leading President Yitzhak Herzog to task Eisenkot with forming a new government.
Opposition politicians expressed concern that Netanyahu could authorize another attack on Iran, which could provoke retaliation and disrupt coalition negotiations in an effort to extend his hold on power.
In the meantime, the public broadcaster KAN reported that IDF chief Eyal Zamir opposes an immediate attack. According to the report, the army sees no imminent threat from Tehran, while Zamir warned against being trapped in a prolonged war of attrition.
In a separate development, "Haaretz" reported that Goffman met CIA director John Ratcliffe in Washington and is expected to hold discussions with White House envoy Steve Witkoff.