IDF Chief Warned U.S. That Striking Iran Would Disrupt Israel's Election
Eyal Zamir warned his American counterpart as Netanyahu pressed the U.S. to launch joint strikes on Iran before Tuesday's vote, CNN reported. Defense Minister Katz denied an 'intention' to launch strikes before the election
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned his American counterpart that a U.S. strike on Iran before Israel's Tuesday election would disrupt the vote, leading the Americans to turn down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's requests to launch joint attacks on Iran, CNN reported on Monday.
According to the report, which cites U.S. officials and an Israeli security source, Zamir's warning to U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine came after the Israeli prime minister pushed the Trump administration to launch new attacks against Iran before the Tuesday election.
Israel has been preparing to resume strikes in the past week, lobbying Washington to join the attacks, the report said. U.S. officials reportedly asked to postpone the strikes until Washington is ready to resume the war. Israel has delayed the strikes for now since it needs Washington to help intercept the missiles Iran would fire in retaliation after Israel's own interceptor stockpiles have been strained, the report said
"Netanyahu really wanted and tried to convince Trump for a joint attack in Iran before the elections, and Trump did not give a green light," the Israeli source reportedly told CNN. All sources reportedly said Israel has delayed the strike plans for now but is preparing to renew the Iran war together with the United States, likely after the U.S. midterm elections.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday denied there was an "intention" to launch a strike on Iran before the election, as well as reports of a rift between the political leadership and the IDF over a possible attack on Iran before Election Day.
"The reports of differences between the political leadership and the IDF on Iran are completely baseless and false," Katz said, adding that the government had made clear that "if Iran attacks Israel, we will respond with great force."
Katz also condemned the opposition's response to the reports, saying its attempts to attack Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and him and cast doubt on their judgment, while they are unable to discuss the details of the Iran issue "for obvious reasons," were "disgraceful and irresponsible."
Earlier Monday, Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman said he had asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a criminal investigation into Netanyahu on suspicion of treason, accusing the prime minister of trying to drag Israel into war with Iran on the eve of the election.
In his request, the right-wing opposition party leader wrote that "over the past month, Netanyahu has been pressuring top defense officials to take steps that could lead to a miscalculation with Iran."
He said the attempt to drag Israel into war before the election, alongside a willingness to sacrifice IDF soldiers out of fear of losing, constituted "treason against the state, its security and IDF soldiers."
Lieberman's demand comes amid growing tensions between Netanyahu and the military over the prospect of an attack on Iran. The military has expressed strong reservations about striking in the near future, citing disagreements over the urgency of such an operation and concerns about its potential impact on the election, including the possibility of a delay.
The U.S. administration has also expressed surprise at Netanyahu's recent statements, while President Donald Trump issued a statement Sunday clarifying that there would be no attack on Iran overnight.
On Sunday, Netanyahu posted an illustration on social media depicting Tel Aviv engulfed in flames from a hypothetical Iranian atomic bomb strike, warning that "Israel is in real existential danger."
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party and Netanyahu's leading rival, warned the prime minister on X on Sunday against allowing political considerations to dictate security decisions.
The lives of Israel's citizens and IDF soldiers are not fair game, and the State of Israel is not his private property," Eisenkot wrote, adding that he trusted Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and the IDF commanders. "We will not allow the IDF to be turned into a tool in Netanyahu's survival campaign."
Eisenkot also stressed that holding the election as scheduled was essential to Israel's national resilience, warning Netanyahu not to put his political interests above the country's security.