Liberman Seeks Treason Case Against Netanyahu Days Before Vote

A legal battle has erupted in Israel two days before the national election, as Avigdor Liberman asked the Attorney-General to examine whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu committed treason. Liberman, who leads the Yisrael Beytenu party, submitted the request on Monday. The move follows a news report alleging a sharp disagreement between Netanyahu and the military leadership over a potential strike against Iran.

The dispute centers on a proposed military operation that could trigger a direct confrontation with Iran. N12 reported on Sunday that Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir clashed over the plan. Liberman believes the Prime Minister is deliberately escalating tensions to delay the vote. He described the alleged actions as a betrayal of the state and argued that the military should not be used for political gain.

In a post on X, Liberman claimed Netanyahu was trying to force Israel into military action to stop the election. He stated that the Chief of Staff has a duty to protect soldiers from unnecessary risk. When speaking to 103FM on Monday, Liberman said he would formally approach Gali Baharav-Miara. "The man has gone off the rails," he said. He cited inconsistent statements about Iran's nuclear capabilities as evidence of erratic behavior.

Liberman asserted that relations between the political leadership and the army are at their worst. He argued that any action risking a large-scale war requires a full government discussion. He maintained that the current tension is the result of Netanyahu's attempt to provoke a miscalculation with Tehran. The request for a probe does not confirm guilt or guarantee an investigation will begin.

Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected the accusations. He stated that coordination between the Prime Minister, himself, and the IDF has been complete since he took office. Katz denied that Israel planned to start an attack on Iran before the election. He said the country would respond with great force if Iran attacked first. Katz called the opposition's claims false and said the government cannot discuss the details of the Iranian issue publicly.

Katz accused opposition figures of exploiting the reports to damage the Prime Minister and himself. He described the effort as shameless and irresponsible. He noted that the government will overcome the political challenge. The election is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27.

The request for a treason probe is a rare move in Israeli politics. It places the dispute over the Iran strategy in the legal arena just before voters head to the polls. Liberman's party positions itself as a centrist bloc, while Netanyahu leads the right-leaning coalition. The Attorney-General's office has not yet commented on the specific request.