Iran Attack Sparks "Sharp Dispute" Between Netanyahu and Zami
A sharp dispute has emerged between the Israeli Prime Minister and the Chief of Staff regarding directives to execute a military operation against Iran, amid fears of exploiting the file for electoral purposes.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
Occupied Jerusalem – Agencies: Channel 12, an Israeli private network, revealed that an “unprecedented” confrontation took place between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir over political directives to carry out a military operation that could lead to a swift clash with Iran. The channel said the dispute between Netanyahu and Zamir peaked over the past 24 hours, amid concerns within the military establishment that the Iranian file is being exploited for political gains ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for today.
Since the launch of the recent election campaigns, Netanyahu has intensified his security-focused rhetoric by igniting fronts, inciting against Iran, and appealing to voters’ fears, amid opinion polls indicating the difficulty of his bloc securing the parliamentary majority needed to form a government. According to the channel, Zamir received directives from the political level in recent days to carry out an operation whose nature was not disclosed, but he demanded an in-depth discussion before its execution, along with legal documentation and official signatures from the political leadership authorizing its implementation.
The channel quoted a security official warning that the proposed operation “could lead to a swift confrontation with Iran at a highly sensitive time, and result in a misjudgment of the situation.” It also cited sources familiar with the details as saying there are “concerns within the military echelon that the political level is attempting to exploit the Iranian issue to generate political momentum” ahead of the elections.
As Israeli elections approach, Netanyahu is racing against time to bolster his chances of remaining in power, relying on President Trump’s public support, even as opinion polls show a widening gap between his coalition and the opposition, and his moves are raising concerns in the White House. Axios reported that Netanyahu asked Trump to intensify his public support for his election campaign in an effort to improve his prospects, amid indications that his chances of retaining power are waning.
