Liberman Petitions Prosecutor for Treason Inquiry Into Netanyahu

Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beytenu party, formally requested that Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara open a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on suspicion of treason. The petition was issued on Monday, 48 hours before the October 27 election.

Liberman based his request on a report from the N12 broadcaster on Sunday. The outlet claimed Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir clashed over a proposed military operation. The dispute centered on whether the action would trigger a wider confrontation with Iran. Liberman stated that this conflict suggests the Prime Minister was using the military to disrupt the voting process.

In a post on X, Liberman characterized the alleged conduct as a betrayal of the state. He argued that the chief of staff has a duty to prevent the military from serving political ends. He also said that any action risking large-scale war requires a formal government decision, not unilateral executive action.

Speaking to 103FM on Monday, Liberman defended the decision to approach the attorney-general. "The man has gone off the rails," he said. He questioned Netanyahu's shifting rhetoric, noting: "One day he's preparing a crypto bomb for us, and the next day an atomic bomb. He just said he had destroyed all of Iran's bombs, and now he's dropping bombs on Tel Aviv?" Liberman added that relations between the military and political leadership are currently at their most strained point.

Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected the accusations in response. He stated that coordination between the Prime Minister, himself, and the IDF regarding Iran has been complete since he took office. Katz insisted that Israel had no intention of initiating an attack on Iran before the elections. He described reports of a rift as entirely false and called the opposition's timing "shameful and irresponsible." Katz noted that the government cannot discuss the details of the Iranian issue at this time, adding, "We will overcome this too."

The request for a probe does not confirm criminal wrongdoing or guarantee an investigation will open. It places the matter before the office of the attorney-general for review. The political dispute occurs against the backdrop of a reported disagreement over military strategy that could affect the timing of hostilities with Iran.