Yashar party leader MK Gadi Eisenkot met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday for a security and diplomatic briefing that lasted more than two hours and was also attended by the prime minister's military secretary.
Following the meeting, the two issued a joint statement saying that Eisenkot had been briefed on the security and diplomatic challenges currently facing Israel.
They also agreed to continue exchanging updates as necessary, the statement added.
Netanyahu's military secretary, Maj.-Gen. Guy Markizano, was said to have been present in the room throughout the meeting, indicating that the discussion was limited to security matters rather than political issues.
The meeting at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) followed Eisenkot's repeated requests to receive security briefings, which he had previously said were denied, as well as his calls for caution in security decision-making while the government remains in a caretaker capacity.
The meeting also comes amid recent reports of renewed tensions between Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir over the possibility of resuming military action against Iran.
Eisenkot asked A-G to secure security briefings
On Wednesday, Eisenkot appealed to Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to intervene and ensure that he receives regular security briefings from Netanyahu on the current threat assessment.
The Yashar leader said the briefings were necessary “to ensure effective oversight, maintain a proper national decision-making process, and safeguard security interests.”
By law, the prime minister must provide the opposition leader with a security briefing at least once a month. Eisenkot had requested the briefings as no new opposition leader has been officially appointed to replace Yair Lapid while coalition negotiations continue.
Amid the political deadlock between Netanyahu's bloc and the bloc seeking to replace him, a new government has yet to be formed following the October 27 election. Netanyahu will continue serving as caretaker prime minister until a new government is established.
Eisenkot’s mandate to form the next government
Eisenkot was meanwhile tasked by President Isaac Herzog with forming the next government. He has 28 days from Sunday to do so, with the option of requesting a 14-day extension.
The PMO issued a statement on Wednesday defending Netanyahu's security decisions, saying that all government decisions “were based solely on security considerations and in full coordination with the security establishment.”
Before Thursday's meeting was announced, Eisenkot had argued that Netanyahu was preventing him from receiving the requested briefing.
Amichai Stein contributed to this report.