Report: Herzog Brokered Netanyahu-Eisenkot Meeting

President Isaac Herzog acted as an intermediary in arranging the security meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yashar! party chairman Gadi Eisenkot, at least in the early stages of the contacts, Kikar HaShabbat reported on Thursday evening. The President's Office strongly denied the report.

According to the report, Herzog passed on a message that a security briefing was needed at this time. The message went from Netanyahu to Eisenkot through the president. Kikar HaShabbat said this presidential mediation took place before Eisenkot wrote to the prime minister.

The President's Office rejected any involvement in the contacts or in coordinating the meeting. "The president was not involved in any way in coordinating the meeting between the prime minister and Eisenkot," his office said in response.

Netanyahu and Eisenkot met on Wednesday night at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem for more than two hours. The prime minister's military secretary, Maj. Gen. Guy Markizano, also attended. When the meeting ended, the two sides issued a joint statement. "The security briefing by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his military secretary, Maj. Gen. Guy Markizano, to Yashar! chairman Gadi Eisenkot has now concluded. Eisenkot was updated on the security and diplomatic challenges facing the State of Israel at this time. It was agreed to continue mutual updates as necessary," the statement said.

The meeting came just a day after a sharp exchange between the two men. In an unusual letter, Eisenkot urged the prime minister to refrain from dangerous security moves during the transition period. "I am addressing you as the one who still holds the reins of government and who is still responsible at this hour for the security of the State of Israel, the IDF and the security forces," Eisenkot wrote.

The talks took place against the backdrop of reports of stepped-up American preparations in the Middle East. Kikar HaShabbat previously reported that US Central Command (CENTCOM) told IDF representatives in the United States in recent days to prepare for a possible resumption of the campaign against Iran in the near future.

At the same time as the meeting, Defense Minister Israel Katz held a multi-front situational assessment. Taking part were IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Defense Ministry Director-General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, the head of the IDF Operations Directorate, the head of the Strategy and Third Circle Directorate and other senior defense officials. Afterward, Katz said that the prime minister, the defense minister and the chief of staff see eye to eye on every aspect of the Iranian issue and on the need to confront any threat with determination.

The situation reflects an unprecedented political tangle in Israel. Herzog has tasked Eisenkot with forming the next government. Netanyahu, however, remains caretaker prime minister and is still steering security policy on Iran. The security cabinet is set to convene on Sunday for the first time since early October. That has sharpened the question of whether an outgoing government has the authority to make the most sensitive decision of all, launching a new military campaign against Tehran.

Senior figures in the so-called change bloc accuse Netanyahu of pushing for a unilateral operation against Iran. They say this runs counter to the position of US President Donald Trump, whose administration is currently negotiating an agreement with Tehran.