'Complete fabrication': Netanyahu, Katz deny plans to fire IDF chief Zamir ahead of election

Katz and Netanyahu reject reports of plans to dismiss IDF chief Eyal Zamir amid tensions over Iran, as Eisenkot weighs in ahead of Tuesday's elections.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office and Defense Minister Israel Katz denied reported plans to dismiss IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir on Monday, amid reports of tensions between the political and military leadership over Iran, a day before the Knesset elections.

Katz condemned the reports, claiming they were part of an attempt to harm the Likud Party ahead of Tuesday's elections.

"The reports published this evening about an intention to dismiss Chief of Staff Zamir are a complete fabrication and an outright lie," the defense minister said.

According to Katz, the reports were part of a series of security-related claims circulated over the past 24 hours that he alleged were intended to damage Likud's election chances.

Katz stressed that he had personally recommended Zamir's appointment as IDF chief of staff and that their cooperation would continue.

"We are working together for the security of the State of Israel, with unprecedented historic achievements, and that is how I intend to continue acting in the future," he said.

Netanyahu's Office also rejected the reports concerning relations between the prime minister and the IDF chief of staff, issuing a brief response: "Complete fake news from beginning to end."

Netanyahu personally denied the reports in a post on X/Twitter on Monday, writing: "More fake news from the panic-mongering Channels 12 and 13 on the eve of the elections: I do not intend to dismiss the chief of staff, and we will continue working together for Israel's security. I do intend to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat once and for all. I will do so together with my friend President Trump, and we will also sign peace agreements with additional countries."

Eisenkot: Zamir will remain in office, Netanyahu will leave after elections

Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar Party, declared on Monday that Zamir would leave his position only when the law stipulates, while Netanyahu would leave office after the elections and the formation of the next government.

"Tomorrow, the people of Israel will elect a prime minister whose considerations will always be for the good of Israel, who will never act out of political interests at the expense of Israel's security and IDF soldiers," Eisenkot said.

Reports of Netanyahu-Zamir confrontation over Iran

The denials follow reports over the past 24 hours of unusual tensions between Netanyahu and Zamir concerning the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iran.

Channel 12 News reported on Sunday evening that Netanyahu and Zamir had clashed over the Iranian issue, while defense officials sought to emphasize that military decisions were made solely on professional grounds.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit addressed the reports on Monday, stating that the military was on high alert across all fronts.

The statement stressed that the IDF's operational activities and guiding considerations were based solely on security, professional, and national interests, and that any portrayal suggesting otherwise was misleading.

Earlier, Katz also denied claims of disagreements between the political leadership and the military over Iran.

According to Katz, coordination between the prime minister, the defense minister, and the IDF was complete, and there had been no intention to initiate an Israeli attack on Iran before the elections.

However, he made clear that Israel would respond forcefully if attacked by Iran.

The statements came one day before polling stations were set to open, with relations between the political leadership and the military's top brass at the center of public debate.