Security Cabinet to meet after six-week hiatus amid telling IDF to prepare for Iran strikes

Israel's Security Cabinet is set to convene on Sunday for the first time in over a month, according to KAN News, amid political transitions and talks of renewed strikes on Iran. The Security Cabinet had ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to be prepared for a potential strike on Iran, though it had not convened since October 5. This directive could potentially trigger a broader conflict, according to the report.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and tasked by President Isaac Herzog to form the next government, has urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid unnecessary military actions until a new government takes office. Eisenkot also requested that the Attorney-General provide him with regular security updates.

In a letter to Netanyahu, Eisenkot warned that deploying security forces without a pressing threat, which can't be postponed, may have dire consequences for Israeli democracy and public trust in governmental institutions.

In response, Netanyahu accused Eisenkot of acting irresponsibly for discussing sensitive security matters publicly. He maintained that all government decisions were based solely on security considerations and in coordination with the defense establishment. Eisenkot countered by questioning why Netanyahu refused his request for an operational briefing through official channels and why he was delaying the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting, which was not convened until the following week.

Eisenkot vowed not to allow a lack of oversight in a government that had lost the Knesset's confidence.

This dispute unfolds as US President Donald Trump has expressed no urgent need for further strikes against Iran. However, in Israel, senior security officials told KAN that the IDF is still preparing for a possible renewal of military operations, following directives from the political leadership. These officials cautioned that the longer the situation remains unresolved, without either military action or an agreement, the higher the risk that previous gains against Iran will be lost.