The delay in appointing Liberman as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee – and the fear of a security escalation

The appointment of Avigdor Liberman as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has been postponed to Monday after the Netanyahu bloc prevented a vote. Liberman will not be able to access classified materials amid concerns over a security escalation. He intends to summon the Chief of Staff and the head of the Mossad for discussions on Iran.

The appointment of Avigdor Liberman as temporary chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has not yet been completed, after the Netanyahu bloc prevented the required vote in the committee itself. The process has been postponed to next Monday, and in the meantime Liberman cannot access classified intelligence materials, precisely amid growing concerns over a security flare-up. Liberman stated that he intends to summon the Chief of Staff and the head of the Mossad for discussions on Iran, and cited reports on Iranian chemical weapons and attempts at operations through proxies. Meanwhile, Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot attacked Prime Minister Netanyahu, demanded restraint in military moves, and appealed to the Attorney General to review the powers of the transitional government. Netanyahu's office rejected the appeal and accused Eisenkot of politicizing national security. The article reports on disagreements between Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir regarding the operation in Iran, but does not provide an official explanation for the delay in the appointment.

The delay in appointing Liberman as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee – and the fear of a security escalation