November 11, 2026
The political and constitutional crisis in Israel has escalated against the backdrop of the ongoing debate between the head of the outgoing government, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the head of the “Yashar!” party. Gadi Eisenkot, amid mutual fears and sharp positions regarding the powers of the transitional government to make sensitive military decisions.
In the details of the crisis published by journalists Avi Solomon and Idan Kevler on the Israeli Walla website, Eisenkot sent a strongly worded official letter to Netanyahu, asking him to refrain from making dangerous and non-urgent military decisions, stressing that the current government has lost the confidence of the Knesset and only has the support of 46 representatives. Eisenkot warned against using the army and security services in operations that are not posed by direct and immediate threats, considering that this threatens Israeli democracy and citizens’ confidence in government institutions, and puts senior security leaders facing a constitutional crisis and legal dilemmas.
Eisenkot’s warnings were not limited to political correspondence, but rather extended to sending an official letter to the government’s judicial advisor, Gali Beharav Meara, in which he asked her to intervene to ensure that he receives regular security and intelligence briefings in the absence of an accredited opposition leader, and stressed the need for any military movement during the transition phase to be subject to strict oversight and approval by the security mini-ministerial council. Eisenkot also questioned the reasons for Netanyahu’s office’s refusal to provide him with briefings through official channels, and the attempts to delay the convening of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee in the Knesset, pledging not to allow any oversight vacuum or deviation from pure security considerations.
On the other hand, the Prime Minister’s Office responded with an official statement in which it stressed that all security decisions were taken exclusively in coordination with the security establishment and resulted in “unprecedented achievements.” The office accused Eisenkot of “politicizing national security” and provoking division by publicizing sensitive issues, calling on him to join a national unity government instead of sowing fears.
The debate extended to include prominent ministers in the government coalition. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attacked Eisenkot in sharp terms, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized issuing public warnings instead of requesting secret meetings, accusing him of trying to undermine public confidence in the army and state institutions for political goals.
These developments come in light of an intense conflict over the formation of the next government after the balance of power changed in the Knesset, amid efforts led by the Change camp to form a new coalition, and the positions of Netanyahu, who called for unity to confront the escalating Iranian threats. This discrepancy leaves major questions about who is authorized to make the military decision and ensure that it is subject to legal oversight during the transitional phase.
