Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said Israel does not plan to attack Iran before the upcoming elections. However, he warned that Israel would respond with full force if Iran launched an attack.
Katz also rejected reports of disagreements between Israel’s political leadership and military command over Iran. He described the reports as false and insisted that political leaders and the Israeli military remained fully coordinated.
Read more: Israeli strike on university in Gaza kills 3
The remarks followed a report by Israeli television Channel 12 about alleged differences between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military chief Eyal Zamir. The report suggested that the military leadership had sought further consultations and legal clarification before carrying out a possible military operation against Iran.
The reported disagreement raised questions about coordination between Israel’s civilian leadership and armed forces. However, Katz denied that any division existed and reiterated that Israel had no plan to launch an attack on Iran before the elections.
Netanyahu had previously claimed that he instructed Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, and the military to take steps aimed at overthrowing Iran’s government. The reported concerns surrounding Zamir’s position emerged after those instructions.
Read more: Israel demolishes Palestinian homes after two soldiers killed in West
The allegations fuelled speculation about whether Israel’s political and military leadership agreed on the timing and scope of possible action against Iran. Israeli officials have not provided further details in the supplied report about the alleged consultations or any specific operational plans.
Katz’s statement sought to dismiss the reports of internal disagreement while clarifying Israel’s publicly stated position ahead of the elections. He maintained that Israel would not initiate an attack on Iran during this period. At the same time, his warning indicated that Israel would respond forcefully if Iranian forces attacked first.