Netanyahu Reportedly Clashes With IDF Chief Over Iran Action, Hebron Operation

Israel's Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly stands alone among senior security officials in opposing a military operation against Iran that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz favor, especially before the upcoming parliamentary elections. Reports from two Israeli TV channels suggest Zamir could lose his position if Netanyahu forms another government, though the Prime Minister's office has denied these claims as false.

Concerns among military officials, as reported by Channels 12 and 13, are that planned actions against Iran could trigger a new escalation and disrupt the elections. Zamir is said to have insisted on further consultations and demanded written documentation of the legal basis for the operation ordered by Netanyahu. CNN previously reported, citing informed sources, that Israel had sought US cooperation for strikes on Iranian targets, but President Donald Trump refused. Zamir reportedly warned the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that an attack could lead to the postponement of the Israeli elections.

Netanyahu and Katz have denied reports of a conflict with the Chief of Staff. Katz stated on Monday morning that Israel has no plans for an attack on Iran before the election. Channel 12 reported that Zamir warned in confidential discussions that Tehran might misinterpret the proposed military steps and respond with a preemptive strike.

In contrast to Zamir, Mossad Chief Roman Gofman and Shin Bet head David Zini reportedly advocated for the immediate implementation of the plans, with Gofman arguing that "time is not on our side." The positions of Air Force Commander Omer Tischler and Head of Military Intelligence Shlomi Binder were not determined by the reports.

Haaretz also reported resistance to the alleged Iran operation, with some senior Mossad employees reportedly disagreeing with Gofman. They expressed concerns that Netanyahu's political interests might be influencing the decision-making process before the election. The Mossad declined to comment on operational matters but stated that differing views are a sign of organizational strength, not tension, and that their actions are solely based on security interests.

A separate dispute between Netanyahu and Zamir reportedly concerns the Israeli military's operation in Hebron. The operation began after Palestinian terrorists killed two soldiers. Approximately 3,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes due to the operation. Kan reported that the army proposed ending the operation within a day, but Netanyahu insisted on its continuation. Zamir reportedly stated at a briefing that there was no operational reason to continue and no legal basis to prevent residents from returning to their homes, recommending the operation's conclusion. A military official cited by Kan indicated that key objectives, such as deterrence and intelligence gathering, had been met, with only two firearms recovered from about 500 searched buildings.