Lieberman Seeks Treason Investigation of Netanyahu

Avigdor Lieberman asked Israel’s attorney general on October 26 to investigate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on suspicion of treason, alleging that Netanyahu pressured security officials to take steps that could provoke a miscalculation with Iran before the October 27 election. The request does not itself open an investigation or establish wrongdoing. Lieberman, a former defense minister and leader of the Yisrael Beytenu party, said Netanyahu had been pressing security chiefs during the previous month. He accused the prime minister of risking a confrontation with Iran for electoral reasons. The allegation is Lieberman’s; the material provided does not establish that Netanyahu acted with that intent. The request followed a Channel 12 report that Netanyahu and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had clashed over an unspecified operation that could trigger a confrontation with Iran. The report said Zamir sought further discussion and legal authorization before carrying it out. The operation’s details have not been disclosed, and the account relied on unnamed sources. Netanyahu denied that he had fought with Zamir, calling the report false. Defense Minister Israel...