Israel's Iran-war dispute with top brass erupts into political crisis before election

Days before Tuesday's vote, disputed reports of a rift between Netanyahu and military chief Zamir over an Iran operation have sparked accusations of politicizing the army.

• Channel 12 reported that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir demanded written legal approvals before executing political directives for an operation that could escalate with Iran.
• Defense Minister Israel Katz denied the reports, calling them "baseless lies and fabrications," and said Israel never intended to attack Iran before the elections.
• Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a criminal investigation of Netanyahu for alleged treason and readiness to sacrifice soldiers.
• Netanyahu denied any confrontation with Zamir, calling the reports "nonsense," as opposition leaders accused him of pushing toward escalation.
• CNN, citing an Israeli security source, reported that Netanyahu tried to persuade Trump to launch a joint attack before the elections, but Trump withheld approval.
• Rival Gadi Eisenkot publicly expressed support for Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir amid the escalating dispute.