Israel defence minister rejects former chief's call for military resistance to prime minister

Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, said on X on Wednesday that former military chief Gadi Eisenkot's urging the armed forces to ignore directives from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other security authorities was "anti-democratic" and out of touch with reality. > "His call to senior military officials not to obey the directives of the prime minister or me or of other relevant security authorities, on the grounds that 'they have his support', is an anti-democratic statement detached from reality," Katz wrote.

Eiskenkot, speaking to supporters after the October 27 election, described Netanyahu as a caretaker prime minister without a mandate and urged the military to serve the state rather than the premier. > "Stand firm in the face of any attempt to challenge you. You have my unequivocal backing. Netanyahu, do not dare use Israel's security for your political needs," he said.

Netanyahu has repeatedly warned of renewed military action against Iran following a series of bombing campaigns supported by the United States. Media reports suggested that Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the current military chief, had opposed the prime minister's new Iran strategy before the election, a claim the prime minister denied. Katz characterised Eisenkot's remarks as part of "a campaign of lies" about alleged friction between the government and the military over Iran policy.