Netanyahu-Zamir clash over Iran strike plan before election

New details emerged Monday night about an unusual confrontation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, one day before polls opened.

According to a report by Yaron Avraham on Channel 12, citing three sources familiar with the matter, the tension began over a political directive to carry out an operation that could lead to escalation with Iran.

Chief of Staff Zamir requested an in-depth discussion before executing the directive, as well as legal documentation and signatures from the political echelon. Zamir's central concern, raised in yesterday's meeting at Palmachim: carrying out the operation would lead to miscalculation, the other side might misinterpret the preparations, and the Iranians would respond first, dragging Israel into confrontation.

Avraham reported that similar preparations were made before major operations such as "Lion's Roar" and "Kalvia." But this time, the chief of staff stands alone against a broad coalition of senior security officials supporting immediate execution.

On the side supporting the operation: Mossad chief David Barnea, who said yesterday in the room, "Time is not working in our favor"; Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar; Prime Minister Netanyahu; and Defense Minister Israel Katz. Opposing them, Chief of Staff Zamir objected to carrying out the operation before the election.

Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar and Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder were also present in the room. Political sources claim they support the prime minister's direction, but security sources claim the opposite, that they back the chief of staff in this sensitive decision, according to the report.

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir at Palmachim base (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

The confrontation goes beyond the Iran issue alone. According to a report on Kan News, the tension between the security establishment and the prime minister includes significant disagreements and doubts about the political echelon's motives for operations in various sectors, from certain strikes in Iran to continued operations in Hevron.

According to several sources, Chief of Staff Zamir is waging a "rearguard battle" over these operations, questioning their necessity at this time due to the sensitive political situation. A source in the security establishment told Kan News that the fact that senior military officials are questioning the considerations of the political echelon, which are also supported by the Mossad chief, and believe there are also political considerations driving the operation, "speaks for itself."

Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a sharp statement this morning against the reports, clarifying that "there was no intention whatsoever by Israel to initiate an attack on Iran before the elections in Israel." However, he sharpened Israel's deterrence line and made clear that if Iran attacks Israel, it will feel a response of great force.

The IDF addressed the reports for the first time today, stating that "the operational activity and considerations taken in the IDF are security-related, professional, practical and statesmanlike only, and any other discourse is misleading and irrelevant."

According to a report on Channel 13, Netanyahu said in closed conversations: "If I win the election, I'll fire Zamir." The Prime Minister's Office responded with a brief statement: "Fake news."