The key facts

  • Netanyahu and Eisenkot will hold a security briefing in Jerusalem on Thursday, with the prime minister's military secretary Guy Markizano taking part
  • The security cabinet, according to reports, will convene on Sunday for the first time since October 5, following reports of a directive to step up preparations for a possible strike on Iran
  • Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming a new government, called on Netanyahu to refrain from unnecessary military operations until a government is formed

Joint briefing amid mutual distrust

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot will hold a security briefing on Thursday at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, citing a joint statement by the two politicians, reported that Netanyahu's military secretary, Major General Guy Markizano, will also take part in the meeting. The meeting comes against the backdrop of tension between them over the issue of control over security.

Fears of a strike on Iran and a state of emergency

The opposition fears that Netanyahu may strike Iran in order to declare a state of emergency in the country and advance the formation of a national unity government with the participation of both politicians — an option that Eisenkot opposes. These concerns intensified after Netanyahu told journalists in the Knesset on Wednesday that 'forming a unity government is possible, because the people know how to unite in difficult times.' Earlier, Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming Israel's next government, sent Netanyahu a letter calling on him to refrain from unnecessary military operations until a new cabinet is formed.

Security cabinet and legal framework

According to Israel's public broadcaster KAN, the security cabinet is due to convene on Sunday for the first time since October 5 — following reports that it instructed the military to step up preparations for a possible strike on Iran. Netanyahu heads a transitional government, and Israeli law imposes no specific restrictions on such a government launching military attacks; however, any such action would require the approval of the security cabinet, which is headed by Netanyahu himself and includes the ministers of his government. Since June 2025, Israel has waged two wars against Iran, which responded with ballistic missile and drone attacks. The US and Israel accuse Tehran of developing nuclear and missile programs that threaten Israel and US allied countries in the region; Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful and not aimed at creating nuclear weapons.