Amid Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to occupy the City of Gaza and take military control of the entire Palestinian territory, tension has escalated, tension has escalated between the government and the head of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), who accuses the Prime Minister of trying to remove him from his position.
PUBLICIDAD
An article from the newspaper Haaretz, this Tuesday, states that Eyal Zamir is convinced that Netanyahu, his family, and some associates are trying to remove him due to his opposition to taking control of Gaza City. The article cites conversations of the general with members of the IDF General Staff and former Chief of the Armed Forces Gabi Ashkenazi.
PUBLICIDAD
Parts of these conversations would have taken place this Tuesday, after the Defense Minister, Israel Katz, accused Zamir of making appointments for nearly thirty military personnel to new positions without consulting him.
Break between Netanyahu and the IDF chief
According to Haaretz, Zamir said in these conversations that Netanyahu’s family has “marked” him for opposing the new offensive in Gaza, and that close to the prime minister are interested in removing him from his position as Chief of Staff, which he took over in March replacing Herzi Halevi.
A source who participated in those conversations assures that “Zamir has no intention of handing over the army to Netanyahu and Katz.”
Last week, Yair, Netanyahu’s son, who lives in Miami and does not hold any government position, on social network X accused Zamir of promoting a “rebellion” and a “coup” within the military establishment.
Controversy with the Minister of Defense
This Tuesday, the Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, publicly criticized the IDF chief for making military appointments without prior coordination or agreement.
“The meeting held today by the Chief of Staff took place against the instructions of the Minister of Defense and without prior coordination or agreement, which constitutes a violation of the established procedure. Therefore, the Minister of Defense has no intention of discussing or approving the appointments or names that have been published," Katz said in a statement according to The Times of Israel.
In turn, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) published another statement in which Zamir insists that “the discussion was scheduled in advance” and emphasizes that “it is the sole competent authority in matters of regulations to appoint commanders with the rank of colonel or higher in the IDF...The minister has the authority to approve or reject them”.