Netanyahu denies reports he will fire IDF chief after election over alleged opposition to Iran strikes

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday denied news reports suggesting he plans to fire IDF Chief of Staff Zamir over his opposition to aggressive steps against the Iranian regime, which he reportedly fears could trigger an escalation.

Channel 12 News reported earlier that Netanyahu and Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir had clashed over the IDF chief’s opposition to a particular instruction he received in recent days, which he feared could lead to a “miscalculation” by Iran.

Channels 12 and 13 on Monday evening cited “several sources familiar with the dynamics” who believe that if Netanyahu wins the elections, “the chances of Zamir remaining in his position are virtually zero.”

“More fake news from the panic-mongering Channels 12 and 13 on election eve,” Netanyahu hit back in a statement.

“I have no intention of firing the IDF Chief of Staff, and we will continue working together for Israel’s security. I do intend to permanently eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat. I will do so together with my friend, President Trump, and we will also sign peace agreements with additional countries,” he vowed, using the opportunity to boost his election campaign.

Zamir was the only one among the chiefs of Israel’s major security agencies to oppose Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz’s more aggressive stance toward Iran in recent weeks, Channel 12 News reported.

The IDF chief has warned that an escalation could have derailed the Tuesday election, and reportedly also expressed these concerns to U.S. military officials, thereby influencing U.S. President Donald Trump’s reported decision to postpone strikes, as CNN reported Monday.

The IDF didn’t issue a direct denial of the tensions with the political leadership, only stating that it remains “focused on its missions and remains on high alert in each of its operational theaters, in light of various warnings and the sensitive nature of the current period.”

“The IDF’s operational activities and the considerations guiding its decisions are exclusively security-related, professional, substantive, and institutional. Any other discussion is misleading and irrelevant.”

Katz issued several denials and denunciations of reports in recent days. On Monday, he said that reports he wants to fire Zamir “are a complete fabrication and an absolute lie, just like other falsehoods concerning security matters that have been spread over the past 24 hours with the aim of harming Likud ahead of the election.”

He noted that he “recommended Zamir for the position of IDF Chief of Staff. We are working together for the security of the State of Israel, achieving unprecedented historic accomplishments, and that is what I intend to continue doing in the future.”

Yashar chairman and frontrunner in the polls, Gadi Eisenkot, vowed that Zamir would "conclude his role only in accordance with the date stipulated by law," while Netanyahu "will conclude his role immediately following the election results that will take place tomorrow and the establishment of the next government, which will be carried out expeditiously. "

Channel 12 further reported that the specific action to for which Zamir had requested further discussions and a written clarification had also been taken ahead of the two previous Iran wars.

Military and political officials said they were concerned this could have triggered an escalation and the postponement of the election. “There is no scenario in which an event like this would not become public. The whole world would know,” a military official said.

The report further noted that Shin Bet chief David Zini and Mossad director Roman Gofman supported the political leadership in a recent high-level discussion. Gofman reportedly said, “Time is not on our side.”

Air Force commander Omer Tischler and Military Intelligence chief Shlomi Binder also participated, though reports on their position on the matter have been contradictory.

A political official told the channel: “We will not take any extraordinary action before 10 p.m. tomorrow [Tuesday], but we’ll see who has the final word. Chief of Staff Zamir has revealed himself to be a petty politician.”