Israel Defense Minister denies rift over Iran military plans

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has denied reports of disagreements between the country’s political leadership and military officials regarding strategy toward Iran. Responding to media claims of tension between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Katz described the reports as “pure fabrications and baseless lies.”

Katz emphasized that there was no intention to launch an attack on Iran prior to Israel’s upcoming parliamentary elections. He maintained that coordination between the political echelon and the military has been complete, leading to what he termed “unprecedented historical achievements” for Israeli security. However, he stated that Israel would respond with great force if attacked by Iran.

The denial follows reports from Israeli media suggesting that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir sought legal written approvals and in-depth discussions before executing specific military directives that could lead to direct confrontation with Tehran. While Prime Minister Netanyahu also dismissed the reports of friction as “nonsense,” opposition leaders have criticized the government, with some calling for investigations into whether security officials are being pressured for political gain ahead of the elections.