{"id":150881,"date":"2025-11-24T21:01:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T21:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/150881\/"},"modified":"2025-11-24T21:01:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T21:01:09","slug":"in-escalating-clash-idf-chief-accuses-katz-of-harming-militarys-preparedness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/150881\/","title":{"rendered":"In escalating clash, IDF chief accuses Katz of harming military’s preparedness"},"content":{"rendered":"

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Monday hit back at Defense Minister Israel Katz, after the latter ordered a re-investigation<\/a> of the military\u2019s review of its internal probes into the failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack.<\/p>\n

Continuing the ongoing back and forth<\/a>, Katz doubled-down on his decision in response to Zamir, insisting that the defense establishment comptroller will issue recommendations regarding the IDF\u2019s review of the internal within 30 days.<\/p>\n

Following Katz\u2019s statement, Hebrew media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to summon Zamir and Katz for a private meeting aimed at resolving the public dispute.<\/p>\n

A separate meeting \u2014 to be held either before or after \u2014 will bring together members of the wider defense establishment for a situational assessment, given heightened tensions on the northern border, after an IDF strike on Sunday killed Hezbollah\u2019s military chief.<\/p>\n

In his statement on Monday, Zamir accused Katz of harming the military\u2019s preparedness by freezing promotions he had made for 30 days. He said he was informed of Katz\u2019s moves on Monday morning via the media, while he was at a snap drill in the Golan Heights.<\/p>\n

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Zamir said that the report prepared by Maj. Gen. (res.) Sami Turgeman and other former senior officers regarding October 7 \u201cwas defined from the outset for the chief of staff\u2019s use, to examine the quality of investigations and integrative lessons-learned processes in the IDF, and not for political use.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits IDF troops in Syria, joined by Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Shin Bet Director David Zini, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yehiel Leiter, and other senior IDF officers, November 19, 2025. (Kobi Gideon\/GPO)<\/p>\n

He defended the report and called Katz\u2019s decision \u201cpuzzling.\u201d He said Turgeman\u2019s team \u201cheard more than hundreds of testimonies, conducted in-depth examinations, and carried out a professional process.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn alternative 30-day review by the defense establishment comptroller, without detracting from his dignity, is not relevant,\u201d Zamir said, after Katz announced that Defense Establishment Comptroller Brig. Gen. (res.) Yair Volansky would submit a review of Turgeman\u2019s report within a month.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe IDF is the only body in the country that thoroughly investigated its own failures and took responsibility for them,\u201d Zamir continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf any further review is required to complete the picture, it must take the form of an external, objective, and independent committee\u201d that will look into topics including \u201cthe interface between the military and political echelons,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Regarding Zamir\u2019s decision to dismiss officers and censure others over their failures on October 7, something that Katz also ordered Volansky to examine, the chief of staff said, \u201cThese are internal command measures within the IDF that do not require approval.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe insinuation that the criteria, which were examined with utmost seriousness, are not equal is inappropriate, especially in light of the amount of time and deliberation the chief of staff personally invested in deciding with respect to each and every officer,\u201d Zamir said.<\/p>\n

The chief of staff said Katz\u2019s decision to freeze promotions in the IDF for 30 days \u201charms the IDF\u2019s capability and its readiness process for upcoming challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zamir still said that he will \u201ccontinue conducting staffing discussions as planned, in accordance with his authority, and will forward them to the minister for approval as required.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tIDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir (left) and Maj. Gen. (res.) Sami Turgeman (right) present Defense Minister Israel Katz (center) with the findings made by a panel of former senior officers tasked with evaluating the military\u2019s probes into the October 7 attack, on November 9, 2025. (Ariel Hermoni\/Defense Ministry)<\/p>\n

Katz announced his decision a day after Zamir dismissed<\/a> several senior officers and censured others\u00a0for their roles in the October 7 failures, based on the findings of\u00a0Turgeman\u2019s probe<\/a> that found the IDF\u2019s own investigations into its failures inadequate or unacceptable.<\/p>\n

Katz has been fighting a months-long, escalating campaign against Zamir over senior IDF appointments by selectively promoting officers and denying the appointments of others with whom he apparently does not see eye to eye. Some military officials have warned that Katz is attempting to politicize the army by taking control of senior appointments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate the chief of staff, who knows well that he is subordinate to the prime minister, the defense minister, and the government of Israel,\u201d Katz said in a statement, responding to Zamir on Monday. \u201cI do not intend to argue through the media.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe defense establishment comptroller will submit his conclusions within 30 days, and only afterward will I formulate my decisions on the appointments, as required by my role and authority,\u201d Katz added.<\/p>\n

On Monday evening, unnamed senior IDF officials blasted the defense minister in comments to Channel 13 news, charging, \u201cMinister Katz is not interested in Iran or Hezbollah \u2014 but Likud elections. A red line was crossed today. This is not a tactical incident. For seven months, the Turgeman report was worked on, and now Katz stops all the appointments. He is interfering with the work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are talking about the security of the county. The chief of staff will not fold and stand on his hind legs. Zamir doesn\u2019t have a base. He won\u2019t allow politics to enter the IDF. This is all in the lead-up to the Likud committee and primaries,\u201d the officials said.<\/p>\n

Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz on Monday voiced strong support for Zamir for taking \u201ca difficult and necessary step\u201d by holding commanders accountable for their roles on October 7, 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to back Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who imposed and demanded personal responsibility from commanders. This is the role of the chief of staff,\u201d Gantz, himself a former IDF chief of staff, said ahead of a faction meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it wasn\u2019t easy for Eyal to call his brothers-in-arms of decades and hold them accountable and impose sanctions, but this is necessary for the IDF and for the country,\u201d said Gantz, himself a former chief of staff.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tBlue and White party chair Benny Gantz leads a faction meeting at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on November 24, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg\/Flash90)<\/p>\n

Yisrael Beytenu chair MK Avigdor Liberman accused the government of failing to fully defeat Hamas and Hezbollah while also politicizing the army.<\/p>\n

Despite two years of war and a claimed \u201ctotal victory,\u201d Israel today faces \u201can open front in Gaza and in Lebanon\u201d as well as one in Iran, Liberman told reporters ahead of his party\u2019s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe strengthening of Hezbollah and Hamas is greater than the damage we are inflicting on them. They are becoming stronger than ever,\u201d he said, referring to recent IDF strikes against the two terrorist groups.<\/p>\n

Beyond the current military challenges, Israelis now also find themselves faced with a \u201cnew front\u201d in the form of a conflict between Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, he continued.<\/p>\n

This \u201cmadness\u201d is \u201cdangerous\u201d and the \u201conly way to reach the truth is a state commission of inquiry\u201d that will investigate \u201cabsolutely everyone,\u201d said Liberman, calling on those in the coalition \u201cwho feel a minimal sense of responsibility\u201d to \u201cstand up and support the establishment\u201d of such a probe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is another message that emerges from this event, and that is the politicization of the army. People no longer advance based on abilities and professional skills, but according to connections. They advance based on how close they are and on who is more of a \u2018yes man.\u2019 Politicization will destroy the army,\u201d alleged Liberman, a former defense minister.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tYisrael Beytenu party chief Avigdor Liberman holds a faction meeting in the Knesset in Jerusalem on November 24, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg\/FLASH90)<\/p>\n

Since he became defense minister in late 2024, Katz has canceled the appointments of several senior officers chosen by Zamir and his predecessor, Herzi Halevi.<\/p>\n

Some of the promotion hold-ups appeared to have a rational justification, while others were met with puzzlement in the military.<\/p>\n

Katz also delayed the promotion of dozens of colonels and brigadier generals for weeks, claiming that they had been made by Zamir without consultation. He also\u00a0has\u00a0yet to rule on the appointments for three major general roles, with the officers currently staffing them nearing the end of their tenures.<\/p>\n

Typically, senior appointments, aside from those of top generals, are brought to the defense minister for approval following internal IDF meetings on the matter. Katz has falsely claimed that, by law, he is responsible for senior promotions in the military.<\/p>\n

Katz publicly slammed the military chief in August for announcing a list of senior appointments, claiming Zamir had done so without consulting him. At the end of the month, the two announced that they had reached an understanding on the army\u2019s appointment process, though the feud seems to have resurfaced.<\/p>\n

Sam Sokol and Ariela Karmel contributed to this report.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Monday hit back at Defense Minister Israel Katz, after…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":150882,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[42,43,40,38,41,39],"class_list":{"0":"post-150881","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-headlines","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-top-news","11":"tag-top-stories","12":"tag-topnews","13":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150881"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150881\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=150881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=150881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}