Netanyahu denies demanding immediate Iran strike from IDF chief

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed reports Monday evening that he demanded an immediate strike on Iran from IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir but was refused. Netanyahu flatly denied the reports and said the protocols of the discussions would prove the claims false.

In an interview on the "Evening Diary" program with Doron Cohen and Silvan Shalom, the prime minister was asked about the reports of a confrontation between him and the chief of staff over the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iran.

Netanyahu replied: "An absolute lie. The protocols will show it. It's nonsense."

The denial is categorical. According to the reports, Netanyahu demanded immediate military action against Iran, contrary to the position of the chief of staff. In his response, Netanyahu pointed to the protocols of the discussions, which he said would refute the reports.

The prime minister did not, however, detail the content of the discussions or present the protocols to which he referred.

Background: The reported clash over the Hebron operation

Netanyahu's denial comes against the backdrop of a separate report published Monday on Kan News, according to which the prime minister and the chief of staff had a sharp argument during a situation assessment at the Tel Nof Air Force Base.

According to that report, the argument concerned the continuation of the military operation in Hebron, which was launched following the deadly terror attack in which two IDF soldiers fell.

According to the report, the chief of staff made clear during the discussion that the operation's objectives had already been achieved and that there was no longer operational justification for continuing it. In addition, Zamir presented a legal difficulty in continuing to prevent the return of Palestinian families who had been evacuated from their homes during the operation.

According to the report, the chief of staff recommended ending the operation, but Netanyahu refused to accept the recommendation, and the operation continued.

The IDF explained that the planned operations in the Hebron compound had been completed, and that continuing to keep the population away could harm the readiness of the forces and even create a risk of escalation.