RismadarVoice Reporters
November 13, 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing renewed political scrutiny amid reports of possible military action against Iran, as opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot attempts to form a new government following Israel’s inconclusive parliamentary election.
The development has prompted accusations from opposition figures that Netanyahu could use escalating regional tensions to strengthen his political position and complicate the transfer of power.
President Isaac Herzog formally tasked Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, with forming a government on November 8 after 67 members of parliament recommended him for the position.
Netanyahu, whose political bloc lost its parliamentary majority in the October 27 election, remains caretaker prime minister while coalition negotiations continue.
Reports in Israeli media suggest that Netanyahu has considered renewed military operations against Iran despite concerns among senior security officials about the possibility of a wider conflict.
Eisenkot has urged restraint, warning against military action without an immediate security threat during the political transition.
Netanyahu’s office rejected the criticism, maintaining that government security decisions were based on national security considerations and coordinated with the defence establishment.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Israeli political analyst Ahron Bregman of King’s College London suggested that a limited confrontation with Iran could create pressure for a national unity government involving Netanyahu.
Haggai Ram, a professor at Ben-Gurion University and author of Iranophobia, argued that longstanding public concerns about Iran could encourage political opponents to support military action despite disagreements over Netanyahu’s leadership.
Similarly, Tel Aviv University political psychologist Daniel Bar-Tal suggested that renewed conflict could create political circumstances favourable to Netanyahu.
However, these assessments remain interpretations of possible political motives rather than evidence that military action has been ordered for personal political advantage.
The tensions come against the background of repeated confrontations involving Israel, Iran and the United States, which have heightened regional insecurity and disrupted international energy markets.
The political uncertainty has also complicated efforts to establish a new Israeli administration.
Although Eisenkot received the mandate to form a government, negotiations remain difficult because no political bloc secured a parliamentary majority.
He has an initial 28-day period to assemble a coalition, with a possible extension under Israeli law.
For now, the possibility of renewed confrontation with Iran remains a major issue in Israel’s political transition, raising questions about regional security, government accountability and the prospects for a stable governing coalition.
