Katz Says Israel's Leadership United on Iran Threat

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and he see eye to eye on every aspect of the Iranian issue and on the need to confront any threat with determination. He spoke after a multi-front security assessment held amid heightened alert over Iran.

Katz convened the assessment with Zamir, Defense Ministry Director-General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, the heads of the IDF's Operations and Planning directorates, and other senior defense officials. "We will continue to act together and do whatever is required to ensure the security of the State of Israel and protect its citizens," Katz said at the end of the meeting.

He added that all decisions are being made responsibly and in full cooperation between the political and military leadership. "Israel's security is the central consideration, and so it will remain," he said.

The statement was released while Netanyahu was meeting with Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar! party. According to Kikar HaShabbat, Eisenkot met on Thursday with the prime minister's military secretary, Maj. Gen. Guy Markizano, and Netanyahu himself also took part.

The meeting followed a letter Eisenkot sent to Netanyahu on Wednesday, which Kikar HaShabbat described as unusual. In it, he urged the prime minister to avoid dangerous security moves during the transition period. "I am addressing you as one who still holds the reins of government and who is still, at this hour, responsible for the security of the State of Israel, the IDF and the security forces," Eisenkot wrote.

Netanyahu and Eisenkot (Photo: Chaim Goldberg, Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Katz responded to Eisenkot on Thursday morning. "We do not need approval from the opposition or from any legal authority to direct the IDF to carry out targeted operations in Gaza, defensive and offensive operations in Lebanon, the preservation of the security zone in Syria to protect the Golan communities, the evacuation of a terrorist neighborhood in Hebron, and continued offensive activity against terror in Judea and Samaria," he said.

"Against Iran, too, we have demonstrated resolve and sound judgment, in full coordination with the IDF, and so it will be now as well, according to whatever is required," Katz said. "Israel's security is not in transition and is not waiting for the political processes taking place in parallel."

The tension comes amid international reports of intensive mediation efforts, led by Qatar and Pakistan, to reach an interim arrangement between the United States and Iran. According to Kikar HaShabbat, the proposed framework includes limits on uranium enrichment, the release of frozen Iranian funds and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.