From Al Jazeera · Stephen Quillen · · 3m
Can Netanyahu strike Iran before leaving office?
Israel's caretaker prime minister weighs military action against Iran despite US hesitation and domestic opposition.
In brief
Israel's caretaker prime minister weighs military action against Iran despite US hesitation and domestic opposition. Netanyahu's caretaker government can legally launch war on Iran, but faces US opposition, military reservations and domestic political risk. Originally reported by Al Jazeera.
Netanyahu's government loses power
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government lost its majority in last month's parliamentary elections but remains in power in a caretaker capacity.
Transition could take months
A new governing majority will take months to form as Israel's opposition struggles to build a coalition government to replace Netanyahu.
Netanyahu weighs Iran strike
Despite being politically weakened, Netanyahu is reported to be weighing new military action against Iran, despite lack of enthusiasm from the United States, his own military establishment, and politicians vying to replace him.
Caretaker government's legal authority
Article thirty of Israel's Basic Law states an interim government continues to carry out the same duties until a new one takes its place.
The duty of restraint principle
Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that an outgoing government must avoid irreversible policy moves unless they are urgent, a principle known as the duty of restraint.
Security exception to restraint
Netanyahu can initiate military action by presenting it as urgent and in the national interest. Security issues are the clearest exception to a caretaker government's duty of restraint.
“A caretaker prime minister can legally take Israel to war, including against Iran.”
Netanyahu orders military preparations
On Wednesday, Israeli media reported that the security cabinet chaired by Netanyahu had ordered the military to step up preparations for an attack on Iran.
Military establishment opposes action
According to Israel's Channel thirteen, the Israeli military establishment sees no urgent need to attack Iran, an assessment presented to Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot on Wednesday.
Opposition demands parliamentary oversight
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot wrote to Netanyahu that deploying Israeli forces without a direct and immediate threat could have devastating consequences for Israeli democracy and public trust.
“without a direct and immediate threat that cannot wait could have devastating consequences for Israeli democracy and public trust in the institutions of government”
US opposes large-scale military action
Israel's main ally the United States has said it is doubling down on its economic pressure campaign against Iran rather than pursuing more large-scale military action.
Netanyahu's precedent in 2021
In May twenty twenty-one, weeks after his party lost seats in elections while negotiations for a new government were under way, Netanyahu launched an eleven-day war in Gaza that killed at least two hundred sixty…
Public support hinges on urgency
If the case for urgency is weak, especially if Washington is opposed and senior Israeli commanders have reservations, the decision could be seen as an attempt to change the political agenda.
“If the case for urgency is weak, especially if Washington is opposed and senior Israeli commanders have reservations, the decision could be seen as an attempt to change the political agenda while Eisenkot is trying to form a government”
The bottom line
Netanyahu's caretaker government can legally launch war on Iran, but faces US opposition, military reservations and domestic political risk.
