Katz condemned the reports, claiming they were part of an attempt to harm the Likud Party ahead of Tuesday’s elections, The Jerusalem Post reported.
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“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.”
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.
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