Smotrich Calls for Dismissal of IDF Chief Over Dispute with Defense Minister

In a sharp escalation of political-military tensions, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the reprimand if not outright dismissal of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir over what he described as an “unacceptable overreach of authority.” The rebuke follows an intensifying public dispute between Zamir and Defense Minister Israel Katz over the IDF’s internal investigations into the October 7 Hamas massacre.

Smotrich, speaking to KAN Reshet Bet, condemned Zamir’s criticism of Katz, who recently suggested that a Defense Ministry comptroller could review the conclusions of a commission headed by Maj.-Gen. (res.) Sami Turgeman. The commission was established by Zamir to assess responsibility within the IDF’s top ranks for failures surrounding the October 7 attack.

“A reality in which the IDF chief of staff releases statements attacking the minister overseeing him is inexcusable,” Smotrich stated, adding that such behavior “would not be tolerated in any other democracy.” He pointed to the United States as a model, claiming, “In the US, the chief of staff would have received a phone call from [President Donald] Trump who would fire him on the spot.”

The Katz-Zamir standoff has exposed long-simmering tensions within Israel’s security leadership. Katz has blocked or delayed several key promotions within the IDF, contributing to frustration and early retirements among senior officers. Zamir, meanwhile, has pushed back against political interference in military oversight, insisting on the integrity of the IDF’s internal processes.

Smotrich’s comments reflect broader concerns within the coalition over military autonomy and its friction with elected leadership. “In a democracy, there are standard laws and basic codes,” he said. “The chief of staff cannot do some things that the defense minister is permitted to do. The minister is an elected official, part of the political echelon.”

Dismissing speculation that Katz’s moves are politically motivated particularly with Likud primaries approaching Smotrich argued that the defense minister is right to exercise civilian oversight and hold military leadership accountable.

This public clash is more than a dispute over authority it touches on the heart of Israel’s civil-military balance. As questions around October 7 accountability continue to roil the defense establishment, the IDF’s top brass now finds itself navigating unprecedented scrutiny from the political class.

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