Defense Minister Denies Rift With IDF Over Iran Policy
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Defense Minister Israel Katz denied reports of a rift with the IDF over Iran policy, calling them false. He stated Israel had no intention to attack Iran before the elections but would respond forcefully if attacked. Top security officials discussed their responsibility to ensure elections proceed on time, believing immediate action against Iran is unnecessary and should be discussed with the US post-election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also denied a confrontation with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Defense Minister Israel Katz denied reports of a rift with the IDF over Iran policy.
- Katz stated Israel had no intention to attack Iran before the upcoming elections.
- Top security officials discussed their responsibility to ensure elections are held on time.
- The security establishment believes immediate action against Iran is unnecessary before elections.
- They advocate for discussing the timing of any action with the US after the elections.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied any confrontation with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday vehemently denied reports of a rift between the political echelon and the IDF concerning Iran policy, following a Channel 12 exposé detailing a confrontation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. Katz stated that publications alleging discrepancies are "completely baseless and false," asserting that coordination on Iran has been full since he took office and that national security is their sole consideration.
Katz explicitly stated, "There was no intention whatsoever for Israel to initiate an attack on Iran before the elections in Israel." He added that Israel would respond with great force if Iran attacked, dismissing all other reports as false. The Defense Minister also clarified that the intention was not to attack before the elections, but if Iran attacked Israel, they would respond with great force.
Meanwhile, N12 learned that Zamir and top security officials recently discussed their responsibility to ensure elections are held on schedule. The security establishment, including agency heads, understands the sensitivity of the period and their obligations. Despite recent pressures, the prevailing view within the security apparatus is that there is no immediate need for action against Iran before the elections.
Instead, the security establishment believes that after the elections, a structured discussion should be held with the Americans to determine the appropriate timing for any potential action. This comes after Channel 12 revealed an unusual confrontation between Netanyahu and Zamir, stemming from concerns within the military about attempts to exploit the Iran issue for political gain before the elections. The confrontation reportedly centered on an operation that could lead to a swift conflict with Iran.
Sources familiar with the matter indicated that Zamir received instructions from the political echelon and requested an in-depth discussion before proceeding, seeking legally binding, signed authorizations from the political leadership for the move. A senior security official warned that such an operation could lead to a conflict with Iran at a sensitive time and result in a miscalculation. Political sources, however, dismissed claims of exploiting the Iran issue for political purposes as "a complete lie." Netanyahu himself denied any confrontation with Zamir, stating, "There is no confrontation. Someone is trying to obscure the fact that the Chief of Staff himself said Iran is trying to interfere with the elections."
