"Iran für die Politik nutzen": IDF-Chef, Netanyahu kollidieren über militärische Aktionen

US President Donald Trump issued a direct plea to Israeli voters on Sunday, urging them to elect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tuesday’s general election. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that the two leaders had established a successful partnership in weakening Iran’s military capabilities. "When you go to the Polls, please remember that Bibi has been an outstanding Warrior Prime Minister!" Trump wrote. He added, "Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister, we have to finish the job that we started." This renewed endorsement came one day before polls open in Israel, amidst reports of a significant internal dispute within the Israeli security establishment regarding potential military strikes on Iran. The timing of Trump’s statement coincided with revelations of a clash between Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir. According to reports from Israel’s Channel 12, based on anonymous sources, Zamir objected to a directive from the political leadership to conduct a military operation that could trigger a rapid escalation with Iran. A military source described the proposed action as potentially leading to a flare-up with Iran at a sensitive and dramatic moment, risking miscalculation. Zamir reportedly sought further discussions and demanded written legal authorization signed by Netanyahu before proceeding. Security officials expressed concern that the political leadership might be exploiting the front with Iran for political gain ahead of the vote. Netanyahu rejected the characterization of a rift. In an interview on Channel 14, he dismissed the allegations as nonsense, stating that there was no confrontation. Instead, he claimed someone was attempting to obscure the fact that Zamir had previously warned that Iran was attempting to interfere in the elections to overthrow his government. Earlier in a television appearance, Netanyahu stated he had instructed the IDF and Mossad to work toward toppling the Iranian regime. He also posted an AI-generated image on social media depicting a nuclear explosion in Tel Aviv. Two days prior to the election, Netanyahu warned that voting for opponents could expose Israelis to the danger of a second Holocaust. Quoting right-wing activist Yuval Blumberg, the post argued that the state faced existential danger if Iran acquired nuclear weapons and that the remainder of Trump’s presidency offered a unique window to address the threat. Trump’s endorsement detailed specific military achievements attributed to the US-Israeli partnership. He referenced Operation Midnight Hammer, which targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, and Operation Epic Fury, a broader US military campaign. Trump claimed that Iran currently has no navy or air force, and that its military and economy are in shambles. He cited inflation reaching 301 percent and credited a US naval blockade with restricting Iranian oil revenue. The president noted the elimination of successive levels of Iran’s military and political leadership. He warned that the chants of "Death to America, Death to Israel" could no longer be tolerated, asserting that such rhetoric would cease under the current alliance. Reports indicate that Netanyahu privately appealed to Trump for additional public support. According to an account by Axios, citing a US source familiar with the conversations, Netanyahu spoke with Trump twice over the preceding three days. These calls reportedly included requests to reinforce the endorsement and suggestions for specific language in statements of support. However, Netanyahu’s Likud party denied the report. Spokeswoman Neta Molcho stated that the prime minister had not requested campaign support from Trump, either recently or prior to the previous Sunday’s endorsement. Trump’s latest message echoed his previous endorsement from last Sunday, in which he warned that Iran had been devastated militarily and financially and that the US and Israel would soon finish the job unless Tehran changed course. He also warned that Netanyahu’s defeat could leave the United States confronting Iran without an essential partner. The political landscape in Israel remains tense. Pollsters project a close contest between Netanyahu and his main rival, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. Final projections published on October 23 indicated continued political gridlock, with neither the ruling coalition nor the opposition bloc projected to secure enough support to form a government. Eisenkot reacted sharply to the reports of the military dispute. Speaking for the Yaschar Party, he stated he would not allow the army to become an instrument in Netanyahu’s fight for survival. IDF Chief of Staff Zamir has emphasized the separation of military and political spheres. At a military exercise last Tuesday, Zamir stated that the goal of the army is to enable democratic elections without external interference. On Friday, he highlighted that the army would not be drawn into provocations during the election week. Observers interpreted these remarks as responses to Netanyahu’s recent loud threats against Iran. Critics of the prime minister speculated that he might seek to provoke a military confrontation with Iran to capitalize on domestic political gains. Channel 12 provided limited details on the content of the dispute, likely due to military censorship, noting only that Zamir received instructions from the political leadership in the past few days. Background on the US-Iran dynamic shows that Trump and Zamir have acted as constraints on Netanyahu’s approach regarding a renewed conflict. It remains unclear how far Netanyahu would have proceeded if he had not anticipated resistance from certain figures. Netanyahu has previously welcomed a US return to war with Iran in August and early October, and has considered scenarios where Israel takes a leading role or acts as a spoiler to prevent an Iranian nuclear deal he views negatively. In all instances, Trump has attempted to maintain pressure on Tehran through a mix of military threats and economic sanctions. Meanwhile, Zamir has maintained Israel on a war footing against Iran if necessary, though he has defined the necessity of such action differently than the political leadership. In related regional developments, the Saudi-led military coalition announced it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by Yemeni Houthi rebels toward Riyadh. The incident occurred as tensions remained high across the Middle East. The Israeli election is set for Tuesday, with results expected to determine whether the country faces another period of political instability or a mandate for continued hardline policies toward Iran. The interplay between domestic electoral strategy and international military cooperation continues to define the current crisis.