PM and IDF Chief Zamir agree that military leaders have to state opinions after leaks of disagreement between them

On Tuesday evening, in a speech officially announcing the start of the Gaza City conquest, as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said that it is his “duty to present prior to every operation all possible security implications.” 

Zamir’s statements come in the backdrop of leaks regarding disagreements between him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Israeli press.

A Channel 13 report on Monday claimed that Zamir yelled at cabinet ministers during a meeting on Sunday evening, telling them to accept the hostage-ceasefire deal being proposed instead of pushing ahead with the Gaza City conquest. 

The report also claimed that Zamir told the cabinet ministers that the military was preparing for ground maneuvers and was calling up thousands of reservists, but asked, “Why isn’t the negotiating team traveling around the world now, in order to bring about a deal by force?” 

Zamir was also reported to have asked Mossad chief David Barnea, “Why are you in Israel? Go bring us a deal.” 

The Channel 13 report was based on anonymous sources and has not been corroborated by any government officials. 

While Zamir made no mention of friction with the political echelon in his speech, he affirmed that he presented “all the risks and opportunities” for the operation to the political leadership. 

“The IDF is the people's army – that is the source of its strength,” Zamir stated. “The IDF serves the people and operates on their behalf. As the IDF’s commander, it is my duty to present prior to every operation all possible security implications.” 

“All the risks and opportunities were presented to the political echelon clearly and professionally,” he continued. “This is my duty, and under this truth I lead the operation, together with an excellent and experienced line of commanders, to meet all objectives with responsibility and security.” 

In a follow-up speech, given to clarify some of his comments about Israel’s need for a self-reliant military industry on Tuesday, Netanyahu briefly addressed the alleged disagreement between himself and Zamir. 

“I think it is absolutely unacceptable that leaks that are often false, and briefings that are almost always biased and agenda-driven, are being released,” he stated. 

“These things make it harder to manage the war, they clearly delay the release of our hostages, and they endanger our soldiers – and they also lower their morale,” Netanyahu argued. “These are things that must not be done. That is why I do not comment on specific matters of this kind.” 

The prime minister admitted that there were disagreements between members of the cabinet during meetings but said he did not want to “enter into the discussions that we hold in the closed forums.” 

Netanyahu also said that many of the leaks involve lies and are “almost always biased.” However, regarding the issue of debate in the cabinet meetings, Netanyahu said that members have “opposed or hesitated or raised various objections.” 

“And that’s perfectly fine, that’s their job,” he continued. “They need to speak their mind. But in the end, the one who decides is the cabinet, and in the end, the cabinet also looks to the prime minister, and therefore, the political echelon is the one who decides.”