Netanyahu Weighs Military Action Against Iran Amid Caretaker Government Status

Israel's caretaker government, which remains in power after losing its parliamentary majority, can legally initiate military action, according to the country's Basic Law and past Supreme Court rulings. Legal scholars cited by Al Jazeera note that an outgoing administration may act on "urgent and in the national interest" matters, and security issues are often considered an exception to the usual duty of restraint.

Reports indicate that the security cabinet chaired by Netanyahu has instructed the military to increase preparations for a possible strike on Iran. Public broadcaster KAN said the directives could lead to activities that might trigger a war, while a U.S. military official later described related reports as "mere speculation."

Israel's military establishment, as reported by Channel 13, does not see an immediate need for an attack, and opposition leaders have urged the caretaker government to avoid war without clear parliamentary oversight. Opposition figure Avigdor Lieberman warned against decisions that could drag Israel into conflict, and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot wrote that deploying forces without a direct and immediate threat could damage Israeli democracy.

Analysts suggest that any move against Iran would deepen political divisions. Professor Neve Gordon said supporters of Netanyahu’s bloc would likely back a strike, while opponents might view it as a political maneuver. However, Gordon added that broader public sentiment could still rally around the flag if hostilities resume.

U.S. policy appears to favor economic pressure over large-scale military action, which could limit Netanyahu's options. Political scientist Anders Persson noted that a joint U.S.-Israeli operation would be easier to pursue, but reduced American backing would make a unilateral Israeli strike more difficult to justify domestically.

The precedent for a caretaker government launching combat operations exists: in May 2021, Netanyahu led an 11-day war in Gaza while his party was negotiating a new coalition. That conflict temporarily stalled government formation before a new administration took office the following month.