Can Netanyahu launch a strike on Iran before he leaves?

What the report says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s caretaker government is legally able to authorize military action, including against Iran, even after losing its parliamentary majority in last month’s election, according to Al Jazeera’s report. The article says that under Israel’s Basic Law, an interim government keeps its authority until a new coalition is formed, though the Supreme Court has also urged outgoing governments to avoid irreversible steps unless they are urgent. That legal backdrop has renewed debate over whether Netanyahu could launch a strike before a new government is installed.

Al Jazeera reports that Netanyahu has been weighing further action against Iran despite limited enthusiasm from Washington, reservations within Israel’s military establishment, and opposition from politicians trying to replace him. The story says Israel’s security cabinet has ordered the army to step up preparations, while reports of pressure on the United States have been denied or played down by American officials. Opposition figures, including Avigdor Lieberman and Gadi Eisenkot, have warned against decisions that could pull Israel into war without broad backing or parliamentary scrutiny.

The article argues that any renewed conflict would likely intensify domestic political divisions, even if many Israelis rally behind the government once hostilities begin. It adds that the United States remains an important constraint, since joint action with Washington would be easier to sustain than an openly unilateral move. As background, the piece notes that Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have previously ordered military operations while serving in caretaker roles, including the 2021 Gaza war.