Israeli television networks reported differing assessments on Thursday evening of the security briefing provided by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and the politician tasked with forming Israel’s next government, as well as conflicting views on the urgency of resuming the war with Iran. The reports emerged just hours after the two politicians met.

Before the meeting, a source familiar with its agenda told Channel 12 that intelligence assessments would change Eisenkot’s understanding of Netanyahu’s motives. The caretaker prime minister appeared to be seeking to convince Eisenkot of the need to resume hostilities with Iran in the near future. “Once Eisenkot gets the full intelligence picture, he will understand everything. After this meeting, he will not act in the same way and will not question the prime minister’s motives,” the source said.

However, according to the reports, Israel’s security establishment has identified no developments in Iran that would justify an immediate military operation, despite Netanyahu having repeatedly pressed for military action both before and after the Israeli elections. His critics accuse him of pursuing these efforts for political reasons.

Israeli military’s position and the possibility of a US attack

Channel 13 reported that the position of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), as presented during the briefing attended by Netanyahu and Eisenkot, was that there was no immediate need for Israel to launch an attack against Iran.

Netanyahu’s military secretary, Major General Guy Markizano, also attended the meeting.

According to the assessments reportedly presented during the briefing, if US President Donald Trump decides to resume American strikes against Iran, Israel should participate in the military operations.

Channel 13 also reported that Israeli President Isaac Herzog had mediated between Eisenkot and Netanyahu to arrange the meeting, although the Israeli presidency denied any involvement, according to the same network.

Dispute over the briefing and Eisenkot’s warnings

The meeting took place a day after Eisenkot publicly accused Netanyahu of refusing to provide him with a national security briefing and requested the intervention of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

He also warned that non-urgent military action could have “catastrophic consequences” for Israeli democracy, urging Netanyahu not to place the country’s security chiefs in a position where they would face “a serious constitutional confrontation”.

Eisenkot’s statement, which did not explicitly mention Iran, followed reports that Netanyahu was seeking a military operation against Tehran despite objections from the heads of Israel’s security agencies.

Other reports suggested that the prime minister had also sought similar military action against Iran ahead of the 27 October elections, when defence officials had likewise expressed their opposition, fearing that an operation could trigger an escalation and derail the electoral process.

Netanyahu’s coalition lost its parliamentary majority in last month’s elections, and on Sunday President Herzog tasked Eisenkot with forming a government after he secured the most recommendations from members of parliament. Netanyahu, however, remains caretaker prime minister, retaining control of the government and security forces until a new administration is formed.

Reports of US military preparations and briefings to Gulf states

In a separate report on Wednesday, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan said that US Central Command (CENTCOM) had recently warned representatives of the Israel Defence Forces in the United States to prepare for the possible resumption of the conflict with Iran.

Citing an American source, Kan reported that Arab states in the Persian Gulf had also been informed of the possibility of renewed military operations, with the message conveyed through security officials.

Trump himself, however, has played down the likelihood of returning to war in recent days, while simultaneously insisting that he is indifferent to whether an agreement is reached.