Dispute between IDF chief and defense minister escalates: ‘No more military without oversight’

The simmering dispute between IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir and Defense Minister Israel Katz escalated on Wednesday morning, when Katz published a sharply worded rebuke of the military.

“After the events of October 7, there is no longer such a thing as a military without oversight,” Katz wrote, reiterating his claim that, as defense minister, he should have the last word regarding the appointment of senior officers.

As recently as last week, Katz had defended Zamir against several members of the Cabinet who attacked him over his warnings against the decision to order the IDF to take over the Gaza Strip.

However, this week, Zamir announced several new appointments of generals, with Katz asserting that he had not been consulted and hadn’t given the green light.

In his statement on Wednesday, Katz vowed he would “continue to closely accompany and guide the IDF and the entire defense establishment… including through strict oversight of officer appointments.”

Katz argued, “According to the law, I am responsible for approving appointments from the rank of Colonel and above. The Chief of Staff serves as a recommender of possible candidates; therefore, a procedure of prior consultation between the defense minister and the chief of staff was established.”

Several Israeli media outlets noted that no law clearly outlines this process. However, there is an IDF regulation, last updated in 2020, which states that for promotions of colonel and above, the chief of staff is the “appointing authority” and the defense minister is the “approving authority.”

The offices of Katz and Zamir have offered conflicting accounts – with Katz’s office claiming he declined scheduled appointment discussions due to time constraints, expecting the meetings to be held later. Zamir’s office asserted that he tried to follow protocol and schedule the meetings but was rebuffed.

In his statement, Katz blasted attempts to “change the procedures,” ominously adding that this was happening “perhaps on the advice of anti-government advisors stirring the pot,” possibly referring to a Kan News report on Tuesday, stating that several outspoken anti-government former military officials have been advising Zamir.

“To all the former officials now voicing criticism and preaching morals – a little humility wouldn’t hurt,” Katz concluded.

“Read the IDF's internal investigative reports about what happened during your tenure in senior command roles –about poor decision-making on force-building, arrogance, blindness, condescension, lack of oversight, and the depth of the massive failure that occurred. Read – and lower your gaze.”

אם הרמטכ״ל לא מפטר את כוורת הקונספציה - צריך לפטר אותו. pic.twitter.com/yuhDeseD8w

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) August 13, 2025

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has criticized Zamir for lacking sufficient hawkishness, also seized on the Kan report and demanded his dismissal unless he replaced his “far-left political inner circle.”

“When you see who the people closest to the Chief of Staff are, it becomes clear why he’s pushing back so strongly against our plan to conquer Gaza. It turns out the Chief of Staff is surrounded by the architects of the old failed doctrine and surrender, and he acts according to their values,” Ben Gvir stated.

Unless Zamir’s advisors were replaced, he demanded that the prime minister “immediately replace him with a candidate who is committed to victory – not someone who, along with his advisors, undermines the political leadership.”

According to the report, among the advisors are Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Israel Ziv and Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Gabi Ashkenazi, both highly vocal critics of the government, as well as Liran Dan, a former spokesman of the prime minister, and Avi Benayahu, a former IDF spokesman who quickly denied being a close advisor to Zamir.

Responding to the defense minister’s statement, Army Radio cited several unnamed “senior defense officials” who accused Katz of “attempting to politicize the army and IDF officers.”

“No defense minister before him has ever done so in such a blatant manner. Appointments in the IDF should be made according to the chain of command and the military hierarchy,” they said.

“If a battalion or brigade commander believes that the Defense Minister or Channel 14 are the ones appointing him – what might he think? This is a blatant and improper interference, and it could have broad implications for the entire career officer system in the IDF,” the officials warned.

They further claimed that Katz is trying to pressure Zamir “to fall in line – not only regarding appointments but also on Gaza and the issue of drafting Haredim. He won’t succeed. The chief of staff has no intention of resigning, and that was never on the table at any point.”