IDF stops short of denying report Zamir, Netanyahu clashed over Iran strike before elections

"The operational activities and factors considered by the IDF are based solely on security, professional, substantive, and nonpartisan considerations," the military said.

The IDF on Monday issued a statement addressing an avalanche of reports about controversy between IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the handling of a potential war with Iran.

The statement emphasized that Zamir was above political considerations and any specific party, noting that his and the IDF's sole focus is Israel's national security, apart from politics.

However, the statement did not deny that Zamir blocked Netanyahu from taking further action against Iran, citing concerns that politics might influence the prime minister's decision-making.

According to the IDF, regarding "various reports in the Israeli and international media over the last day or so, including various statements related to the IDF chief of staff or senior officials, we would like to clarify: The army is focused on its missions and is on high alert on every front, according to the warnings and sensitivity of this [election] period."

"The operational activities and factors considered by the IDF are based solely on security, professional, substantive, and nonpartisan considerations, and any other discussion is misleading and irrelevant," said the military.

IDF chief pushed back on Netanyahu order for ‘action’ against Iran, fearing political motives

Israel's Channel 12 reported on Sunday that Netanyahu and Zamir clashed over a military action that could renew the conflict with Iran days before Israel's elections.

Recently, Zamir received a directive from the political echelon to carry out an action, which security officials told N12 would "trigger a rapid escalation into a confrontation with Iran."

Due to the sensitive nature of the action, N12 reported that Zamir requested an in-depth discussion and formal authorization before moving forward with the action.

Sources familiar with the details told N12 that 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.

Netanyahu denied the report late on Sunday night, saying on Channel 14’s The Patriots that “there is no confrontation” and that “someone is trying to obscure the fact that Zamir himself had said Iran was attempting to interfere in the elections.”