Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu briefed Gadi Eisenkot for more than two hours Thursday at the Prime Minister’s Office, with Netanyahu’s military secretary, Maj. Gen. Guy Markizano, also present. The two issued a joint statement saying Eisenkot had been briefed on the security and diplomatic challenges facing Israel.
The meeting came a day after Eisenkot complained that he had been denied the briefings normally given to a leader in his position, and asked the attorney general to intervene. He also sent Netanyahu a letter urging restraint and caution while the government serves in a caretaker capacity.
Behind the meeting is a dispute over Iran. Reports have described Netanyahu pushing to resume military action, while President Trump has favored letting diplomacy continue. According to The Times of Israel, sources differed on what Eisenkot was shown: one account said he was told the IDF sees no urgent need to strike Iran, while another said Netanyahu wanted him to understand the intelligence behind his assessments.
Any strike would require approval from the security cabinet. But military decisions made during a transition carry added risk, and a new operation could have consequences well beyond its immediate objective. Israel may have weakened Iran’s regional position, but that does not mean the threat has vanished. The question is whether more force would materially improve Israel’s security or simply begin another round of escalation.