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Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday that he, caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir hold the same position on Iran, responding to reports of friction between the military and the political leadership over a possible strike.
Katz made the assertion in a statement from his office after he convened a situation assessment meeting with Zamir and other senior military and security officials, The Times of Israel reported.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the chief of the General Staff and I are in agreement on the Iran issue in every respect,” Katz said, according to the statement.
The statement said Israel is in a period of coalition negotiations following elections held on Oct. 27. It said every decision taken during this time is being made “responsibly” and in “full cooperation” with the military.
Katz’s office did not detail what was discussed at the meeting, and the statement as reported did not describe any specific operational plans.
The defense minister’s remarks followed reports in the Israeli press that Zamir had objected to Netanyahu’s plans for a strike on Iran after the election and that the two had disagreed over the matter. Katz’s statement did not directly address those reports, but its emphasis on unity appeared aimed at countering them.
Disagreements between the civilian leadership and the army’s top officer over military action are closely watched in Israel, where the chief of the General Staff answers to the defense minister and the government.
Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, who has been tasked with forming a government, has also weighed in. He warned Netanyahu against undertaking military action that is not urgent and requested a security briefing, according to the report.
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