Katz Says Israel Won’t Attack Iran Before Election

JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister said Monday that Israel had no intention of attacking Iran before Tuesday’s election, denying reports of a confrontation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the military chief over a possible move against Iran.

Defense Minister Israel Katz called the reports baseless. “The reports of disagreements between the political leadership and the IDF on Iran are completely baseless and false,” Katz said.

“I state unequivocally that Israel had no intention of initiating an attack on Iran before the elections in Israel, while making clear that if Iran attacks Israel, we will respond with great force,” he said, adding that “all reports on this matter are completely false.”

The denial followed a report Sunday night by Israel’s Channel 12. The channel said IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir had resisted a directive linked to Iran, asking for a fuller discussion and for written legal authorizations before carrying it out, because the action could lead to a miscalculation and a swift confrontation with Iran.

Army Radio published similar details Monday morning, citing two senior security officials, according to The Times of Israel.

CNN reported Monday that Netanyahu has been pushing for new attacks on Iran, but that U.S. officials asked him to wait until the Trump administration is ready for joint operations. “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,” an Israeli security source told CNN. The prime minister’s office said this was “fake news.”

The same source told CNN that Zamir had told Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that a strike would harm the elections in Israel and lead to their postponement.

Katz also accused the opposition of using the reports against him and Netanyahu. “The opposition’s attempt to exploit these reports to attack the prime minister and me and cast doubt on our judgment—at a time when, for understandable reasons, we are unable to discuss the details of the Iranian issue—is shameful and irresponsible,” Katz said.

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman has written to the attorney general demanding a criminal investigation against Netanyahu over the reports, according to The Times of Israel.

Israelis vote Tuesday. Pollsters have projected a dead heat between Netanyahu and his closest rival, Gadi Eisenkot.