Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, and briefed him on the principal security and diplomatic challenges facing "Israel".

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the two sides said Eisenkot had received an update on the current challenges and that they had "agreed to continue exchanging information and briefings whenever necessary", according to Israeli media.

The meeting followed a letter Eisenkot sent to Netanyahu on Wednesday, urging him to exercise restraint in making consequential security and domestic decisions before the incoming government assumes office. The letter drew criticism from Israeli War Minister Israel Katz.

What did the letter state?

In his letter, Eisenkot called on Netanyahu to "exercise the utmost caution and responsibility when making security and domestic decisions", warning of the repercussions of measures taken during the current political transition.

He urged Netanyahu to exercise restraint and "postpone serious security decisions that the next government, having secured the confidence of the Knesset, can make after taking the oath of office".

Eisenkot also cautioned that deploying occupation forces in the absence of a direct and imminent threat could have serious consequences for "Israeli democracy" and public confidence in "state institutions."

He further warned against placing the security establishment at the center of constitutional disputes or leaving it in a state of uncertainty over the decisions it is expected to implement. He stressed that political and external considerations must be kept separate from matters concerning "Israel's" security.

Katz rejects opposition calls for restraint

Responding to Eisenkot's position, Katz said that "the government does not need the approval of the opposition or any legal body to carry out military and security operations", pointing to ongoing aggression against Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the occupied West Bank.

"Israel dealt with the Iranian file with determination and wisdom, in full coordination with the army", Katz claimed, adding that "Israel's security is not in a transitional phase, nor is it hostage to the ongoing political processes".

He said that the prime minister, the security minister, and the government were responsible for directing the Israeli military and making decisions concerning "Israel's security" and the "protection of Israelis", within the framework of existing oversight mechanisms.

Lieberman questions outgoing government's authority in war

Meanwhile, Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman warned that the outgoing government lacked the authority to make decisions that could draw "Israel" into a war without Knesset oversight and the full approval of all security establishment bodies.

Lieberman stressed the need to involve all relevant institutions in decisions of such magnitude, cautioning against bypassing established oversight mechanisms and institutional safeguards.

Netanyahu, army chief clash over approach to Iran

Disagreements have resurfaced between Netanyahu and military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir over how to deal with the Iran file, Israeli Channel 12 reported on Tuesday, citing differences over the risks of further military action.

According to the broadcaster, Zamir believes Netanyahu's proposed moves "lack caution" and could draw the occupation entity into a confrontation with Iran at a time when restraint is necessary.

The dispute comes amid concerns within the Israeli military and security establishment that the occupation entity could be left against Iran alone in the coming months, as it faces manpower shortages and difficulties rebuilding its military capabilities, Maariv reported on November 9.

Military correspondent and analyst Avi Ashkenazi linked these concerns to the possibility that the remaining period before the new US Congress convenes could pass without Washington deciding to launch aggression against Iran.

Read more: Congress probe could put 'Israel' in dock over Iran war: Israeli media