by Jerusalem Post Staff
According to the New York Times, Netanyahu revealed details of Operation Rising Lion with Gafni, who lacked security clearance, so that he would oppose a bill to bring about elections.
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Netanyahu shared classified information about the upcoming strikes on Iran with Knesset Finance Committee chairman Moshe Gafni just three days before it was carried out, the New York Times revealed in a Friday report.
Netanyahu invited Gafni, who lacked the necessary security clearance, to the Kirya military headquarters, where he shared details with him on June 9, just three days before the strike on Iran, the report revealed.
This came amid a growing Haredi threat to topple the government over a proposal for an IDF draft law. Yet, according to the investigation, Gafni continued to threaten to resign from the government despite the sensitive information he had received.
The investigation raises significant concerns about sharing classified information with politicians who lack proper security clearance, especially when these same politicians are threatening to bring down the government. The full report, citing 110 Israeli, US, and Arab officials, broadly details Netanyahu's decision-making based on the survival of his political career during the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza.
In a wider context, Netanyahu was preparing for one of the most significant military operations in Israeli history. For decades, Netanyahu had dreamed of destroying Iran’s nuclear program. During a previous stint as prime minister, he had planned but ultimately called off a major assault on Iran due to military concerns. As the war with Gaza continued, Netanyahu had also cancelled a strike on Hezbollah, fearing it would trigger a regional conflict with Hezbollah’s ally Iran. Throughout 2024, Israel had engaged in sporadic exchanges with Iran but avoided all-out war.
Furthermore, with US President Donald Trump negotiating with Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions, Netanyahu knew that the opportunity to act might soon close. Trump, like previous US presidents, had opposed a strike on Iran, and a deal could render such a military action impossible.
Amid this growing sense of urgency, Netanyahu moved to solidify his political position at home. Several lawmakers in his fragile coalition, unaware of the secret plans, were set to bring down his government. This included the haredi lawmakers who were furious at proposals to end their exemption from military service, the report noted.
These lawmakers planned to join the opposition in a vote to dissolve Parliament, which seemed likely to pass. While Netanyahu, as a caretaker prime minister, could still order a strike on Iran, its legitimacy would be undermined without the full support of his government, the report noted.
Huckabee meets with Haredi leaders
The New York Times also reported, in the midst of this political crisis, that Mike Huckabee, Trump’s ambassador to Israel, came to Netanyahu’s aid. Huckabee invited ultra-Orthodox politicians to the US Embassy in Jerusalem, warning them that their maneuvers risked endangering Israel’s fight against Iran.According to the report, Huckabee also told them that US support for Israel’s military campaign would wane if the government collapsed, as Washington would be less willing to back significant moves by an interim leader. Notably, Huckabee has denied making these statements.
Given these considerations, Netanyahu invited Gafni for a secret meeting on June 9. Netanyahu was reportedly concerned that Gafni’s party might push for the dissolution of the government, which would jeopardize his plans to strike Iran.
Once Gafni arrived at the Kirya around 6 p.m., Netanyahu presented him with a confidentiality agreement, a standard procedure in Israel when sharing classified information. Gafni signed the document, binding him legally to keep the information secret.
Then, Netanyahu revealed the details of the planned attack on Iran, which was set to occur in just three days. According to the report, Gafni left the meeting uncertain about Netanyahu’s true intentions. He wondered if the prime minister, known for his political maneuvering, was playing him or if the attack was indeed imminent. Despite his concerns, Gafni's party voted to preserve the government, ensuring Netanyahu's survival as prime minister. Less than 24 hours later, Israeli warplanes set off for Iran, marking a critical moment in Netanyahu’s political career.
According to Israel Cohen, a Haredi radio host and confidant of Gafni’s, “The plan to strike Iran was the only thing that kept the Haredim from dissolving the government. And Bibi knew that.”
Netanyahu's political decisions to prolong Gaza conflict
This series of events aligns with the broader report's findings, which state that Netanyahu's decision-making since the beginning of the war has been focused on political survival rather than strategic gain or diplomacy.As the war in Gaza reached its six-month mark in April 2024, Netanyahu was presented with an opportunity to end the fighting through a ceasefire deal brokered by Egyptian mediators. The proposal would have paused hostilities for at least six weeks, creating space for negotiations with Hamas and the release of over 30 hostages.
The Saudi government, a major regional power, had even secretly signaled its willingness to normalize relations with Israel, contingent on a halt to the Gaza war. Despite these significant diplomatic breakthroughs, Netanyahu hesitated. According to the New York Times, his decision to delay negotiations and avoid presenting the ceasefire proposal was driven by fears of collapsing his coalition, which was propped up by far-right ministers who opposed any truce with Hamas.
The report detailed a tense cabinet meeting in April 2024, where Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich confronted Netanyahu. Smotrich made it clear that any deal with Hamas, especially a ceasefire, would not be tolerated.
He warned Netanyahu, “If a surrender agreement like this is brought forward, you no longer have a government.” The pressure from Smotrich and other far-right ministers forced Netanyahu to deny the existence of a ceasefire plan that he intended to introduce during a cabinet meeting.
Instead of presenting it to his cabinet, Netanyahu opted to placate his coalition partners by assuring them that no such deal was on the table.
Jerusalem Post Staff
Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-860732
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