Report of rift between Netanyahu and army chief denied

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been forced to deny reports of a confrontation with the head of Israel's army over possible military action against Iran, on the final day of campaigning before tomorrow’s general election.

Final opinion polls suggest the vote could end in deadlock.

There have been growing fears in Israel that Benjamin Netanyahu could seek to strike Iran before polls open at 7am tomorrow.

According to the Haaretz newspaper, senior military officials disagree that any such attack is urgently needed.

Last night, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the army chief, Eyal Zamir, had resisted carrying out unspecified military action relating to Iran, and asked the prime minister for signed legal authorisation.

Mr Netanyahu dismissed the report, saying "there was no such confrontation".

Mr Netanyahu dismissed the report as "rubbish" during a TV appearance, and Minister of Defence Israel Katz characterised it as an effort to cast doubt on the Netanyahu bloc's judgement on the eve of close elections.

"The reports about gaps between the political echelon and the IDF (army) on the Iran issue are entirely baseless and false," Mr Katz said on X, insisting there was "complete" coordination between the two.

In its report, Channel 12 said Mr Zamir had demanded a detailed discussion as well as legal guarantees and the signatures of the political leadership before carrying out the directive he had received.

The outlet did not offer details of the directive, but cited sources saying there were concerns within the army that the war might be exploited for political gain.

Mr Katz stated "unequivocally that there was no intention on Israel's part to initiate an attack on Iran before the elections".

Opposition leader Yair Lapid referenced the report in a post on X yesterday, accusing Mr Netanyahu of seeking to put off the vote.

"Tonight it was published that he wants to set off an escalation and a confrontation with Iran, just to postpone the elections," he said.

"This man has lost his grip. We absolutely must send him home."

Mr Netanyahu has campaigned heavily on his security credentials, arguing that only he can finish the job in the US-Israeli war against Iran.

But his main rival, the former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, responded with a warning: "Netanyahu, I'm watching you", he said. Israel’s security, he warned, "isn’t a piece in a political game".

US President Donald Trump issued a statement yesterday saying there would be no attack on Iran overnight.

Final polls suggest neither Mr Netanyahu’s bloc nor Mr Eisenkot’s is on course for the 61 seats needed for a majority.

Additional reporting: AFP