Coalition delays Knesset Foreign Affairs Committee vote, Liberman warns on oversight

The coalition delayed the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee vote until Monday, blocking Avigdor Liberman's appointment as chair. Liberman warned a transitional government cannot drag Israel into war without parliamentary oversight.

The appointment of Avigdor Lieberman 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 Lieberman cannot be exposed to classified intelligence materials, precisely against the backdrop of growing concern over a security flare-up. Lieberman stated that he intends to summon the Chief of Staff and the head of the Mossad for discussions on Iran, and cited Yedioth Ahronoth about Iranian chemical weapons and attempts to carry out 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.