Netanyahu on reported clash with IDF chief over Iran military action
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies Channel 12’s report of an “unprecedented confrontation” between him and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir over an effort by Israel’s political leadership to order some kind of military action relating to Iran just before Tuesday’s election.
Asked about the report during an interview on the pro-government Channel 14, Netanyahu says that “someone here is trying to start a fight, to blur the fact that the chief of staff himself said, and the head of IDF Military Intelligence said, and the head of the Mossad said, that Iran is trying to harm the elections.”
“We are preparing for it,” says Netanyahu.
“There was no fight between us,” he emphasizes. “It’s all nonsense.”
According to Channel 12, Zamir is resisting carrying out the unspecified military action, and has reportedly sought signed documentation from Netanyahu regarding legal authorization for it.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article never says why Zamir resisted the order. Other outlets carried what military sources told Channel 12: they feared the action could trigger a rapid confrontation with Iran and that the political leadership might be using the Iran issue for political gain before the election. Without this, the dispute reads as a procedural row over paperwork, and Netanyahu's claim that 'someone here is trying to start a fight' faces no account of the military's stated concern.
How we know
- Antiwar.com reported“According to The Times of Israel , a military source said that it “relates to an action that could lead to a lightning confrontation with Iran, at a sensitive and dramatic moment, creating this [potential] miscalculation.””Israeli Media: IDF Chief Resisted Netanyahu Order for Military Action Related to Iran (opens in a new tab)
- The Jerusalem Post reported“Zamir and additional IDF leadership are concerned that the political echelon may be trying to exploit the front with Iran ahead of elections for political gain”IDF chief pushed back on Netanyahu order for ‘action’ against Iran, fearing political motives (opens in a new tab)
“I instructed the IDF and the Mossad to topple the [Iranian] regime,” Netanyahu tells Channel 14 earlier in the interview.
He claims Arab states are waiting in line to join the Abraham Accords normalization agreement if Israel completes that mission against Iran.
Is our live election coverage important to you?
Are you relying on The Times of Israel for accurate and timely coverage of the 2026 Israeli election? If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6/month, you will:
- Support our independent journalists who are working around the clock to report political developments as they unfold;
- Read ToI with a clear, ads-free experience on our site, apps and podcasts; and
- Gain access to exclusive content shared only with the ToI Community, including our DocuNation series and weekly letters from founding editor David Horovitz.
Join The Times of Israel Community
JOIN NOW
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
Read the original article on timesofisrael.com (opens in a new tab)