Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir clashed in the past day over a proposed military action against Iran that could trigger rapid escalation, Channel 12 reported tonight.
According to the report, Netanyahu issued a directive to carry out an operation that the military believes could lead to immediate confrontation with Iran. Zamir responded by demanding a full cabinet-level discussion before any action, as well as signed legal documentation and formal authorization from the political echelon.
Senior IDF officials fear the move could spark a swift Iranian response and represents a miscalculation at a sensitive moment. The military is particularly concerned, the report said, that the issue is being exploited for political purposes ahead of the upcoming elections.
The tension between the two men was on display at a meeting today at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, where participants described the atmosphere as unusually strained. A senior security official, referring to Zamir's conduct, said: "History will not forget the role Zamir played in recent days."
Last week, dozens of Israeli Air Force jets were reported flying over Syria and Iraq, reaching close proximity to Iranian airspace. According to American sources at the time, Israel was hoping for an Iranian response that would justify a strike.
