Israel's security cabinet not convened since October 5 amid Iran tensions

Israel's security cabinet has not met since October 5, despite instructing the IDF to increase readiness for a potential strike on Iran, according to reports. Prime Minister Netanyahu has called for a national unity government, while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot urged restraint.

The Israeli cabinet (the inner security cabinet) has not met since October 5, despite high military readiness for a possible renewal of war with Iran and repeated warnings by outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of an Iranian "existential threat." The Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11 reported that the cabinet has not held any session in the past month, despite ongoing alertness. This comes as Netanyahu, since before the elections, continues to warn of the Iranian threat and push for resuming the war under the pretext of "completing the mission," using security risks to justify the need for a unity government under his leadership. During the opening of the 26th Knesset on Tuesday, Netanyahu claimed that "Iran is working to revive the nuclear threat," arguing that "the only way to permanently remove this existential threat is to topple the ayatollahs' regime." He warned of expected international pressure to accept a nuclear Iran, calling for the formation of a national unity government. The article links the absence of cabinet meetings to Netanyahu's escalatory rhetoric, and mentions reports of Iran's missile production capabilities recovering and precautionary US security measures, contrasted with Trump's exclusion of resuming the war.