Iran Clash: Liberman Accuses Netanyahu of Treason Ahead of Vote

Avigdor Liberman, chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, formally asked Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on suspicion of treason on Monday. The request, issued two days before the October 27 election, does not confirm wrongdoing or guarantee that an inquiry will begin.

The demand followed a Sunday report by N12 that Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir clashed over a proposed military operation against Iran. Liberman alleged on social media that Netanyahu was attempting to trigger military action to prevent the vote from occurring. He characterized the behavior as a betrayal of the state, arguing that the military leadership must prevent political interference to protect soldiers from unnecessary risk.

During a Monday interview on 103FM, Liberman described the Prime Minister’s actions as erratic. "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 further noted that the relationship between the military and political leadership is currently at its most strained point due to what he called Netanyahu’s efforts to provoke a miscalculation with Iran.

Liberman asserted that any action with the potential to lead Israel into war must undergo government discussion. He expressed confidence that the Chief of Staff has the strength to insist on legal protocols and keep the military from serving political ends. The opposition leader framed the treason bid as a necessary check on executive power during a critical electoral window.

Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected the accusations, stating that coordination among the prime minister, himself, and the IDF on the Iran issue has been complete since he took office. Katz called the reports "entirely false" and said Israel had no intention of initiating an attack on Iran before the elections. He added that the country signaled it would respond with great force if Iran struck first.

Katz criticized opposition figures for exploiting the reports to attack the prime minister and himself while the government manages the Iranian issue. He described the political effort as "shameful and irresponsible." Despite the dispute, Katz maintained that the leadership has achieved historic results for national security and will overcome the current political challenge.

The legal petition lands just hours before polling places open. The outcome of the investigation request will depend on the Attorney-General’s review of the allegations against the sitting Prime Minister.