In a move that has stirred global attention and raised questions about internal security protocol, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly shared sensitive military intelligence concerning a planned strike on Iran with senior lawmaker and Chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee, Moshe Gafni. This revelation, as reported by The New York Times, is believed to have been part of a high-stakes effort to prevent the collapse of Netanyahu’s fragile coalition government.
According to the report, the confidential briefing took place on June 9 at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv—just three days before Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a covert military campaign aimed at neutralizing Iranian military assets and infrastructure perceived to pose a strategic threat to Israel’s national security.
Gafni, a prominent ultra-Orthodox leader and a key figure in Netanyahu’s governing bloc, was reportedly summoned by the Prime Minister as political tensions threatened to rupture the alliance that has kept the right-wing coalition in power. Sources close to the matter suggest that Netanyahu, aware of Gafni’s influence among coalition members, believed that entrusting him with top-level military plans would secure continued political loyalty and help stabilise his government.
While the Israeli government has neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, the report has generated significant controversy both within and outside the country. Critics argue that the sharing of classified military information with individuals outside the security cabinet sets a dangerous precedent and could compromise national security operations. Others, however, view the move as a calculated political gamble aimed at preserving a coalition that has grown increasingly shaky in recent months.
This development comes amid growing international concerns over rising tensions between Israel and Iran, as well as domestic unease over the direction of Netanyahu’s leadership amid ongoing judicial reforms and political unrest. Operation Rising Lion, although shrouded in secrecy, is widely believed to have targeted Iranian-linked military positions, with several reported incidents across the Middle East in the days following the June 12 operation.
The incident further underlines the increasingly delicate balance Netanyahu must maintain between military strategy and political survival in one of the region’s most volatile periods in recent history.
