Netanyahu and Eisenkot to Hold Security Briefing in Jerusalem

Netanyahu and Eisenkot announced the meeting in a joint statement on Thursday, describing it as a political-security briefing to be held later in the day in Jerusalem. Prime Minister's Military Secretary Maj. Gen. Guy Markizano will take part, and the talks will be held at the Prime Minister's Office.

The sit-down came after Eisenkot sent Netanyahu a letter on Wednesday urging the outgoing prime minister to hold back until a new government is sworn in. Eisenkot asked him to show restraint and caution and to avoid what he called dangerous moves during the transition period — a warning understood to refer to the possibility that Netanyahu could order new strikes on Iran.

Eisenkot put the stakes bluntly in that letter. Deploying security forces without a direct and immediate threat that cannot be postponed, he wrote, could have devastating consequences for Israeli democracy and for public trust in government.

The meeting lands in the middle of Israel's political handover. Eisenkot said on November 10 that he is committed to forming a national emergency government as fast as possible, naming B'Yachad, the Democrats and Yisrael Beytenu as partners, vowing to finish the operation in Gaza and making clear he does not intend to end mandatory military service for everyone. A day earlier, Netanyahu said he was ready to lead a unity government of Zionist and Haredi parties despite not holding the mandate, which President Isaac Herzog had granted elsewhere.