Katz Says Reports of Netanyahu-Army Chief Disagreement Over Iran Are ‘Baseless’

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has denied reports of tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s military leadership over a possible new move in the war against Iran, insisting that relations between the two sides remain fully coordinated.

Katz made the statement on Monday, describing reports of a rift between the political leadership and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as “entirely baseless”.

The comments came after Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Sunday, citing unnamed sources, that Netanyahu and army chief Eyal Zamir had been involved in a confrontation over an unspecified directive.

Netanyahu dismissed the report as “rubbish” during a television appearance. Katz, meanwhile, suggested that the claims were intended to raise doubts about the judgement of Netanyahu’s political bloc shortly before closely contested elections.

“The reports about gaps between the political echelon and the IDF (army) on the Iran issue are entirely baseless and false,” Katz said in a post on X, adding that there was “complete” coordination between the political and military leadership.

Channel 12 reported that Zamir had sought a detailed discussion on the directive, alongside legal assurances and signatures from political leaders, before proceeding with its implementation.

Although the broadcaster did not specify what the directive involved, it cited sources who expressed concern that the military campaign could be used to advance political interests.

Katz rejected the suggestion of an imminent Israeli attack, stating “unequivocally that there was no intention on Israel’s part to initiate an attack on Iran before the elections”.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid also reacted to the report, alleging that Netanyahu was seeking to delay the elections by provoking a fresh escalation with Iran.

“Tonight it was published that he wants to set off an escalation and a confrontation with Iran, just to postpone the elections,” Lapid wrote on X on Sunday.

“This man has lost his grip. We absolutely must send him home.”

Netanyahu has placed national security at the centre of his election campaign, presenting himself as the only leader capable of bringing the US-Israeli war against Iran to its intended conclusion.

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