A rift has emerged between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s military chief, Aviv Kochavi, regarding a potential military operation against Iran—a move that could trigger a conflict ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections.
Military Chief Kochavi has requested detailed discussions and written legal authorization from the political leadership before proceeding with the proposed operation. Specific details regarding the nature or objectives of the operation remain undisclosed.
There is concern among military officials that the political leadership might exploit tensions surrounding Iran to gain an electoral advantage ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27.
A security official warned that the operation could rapidly escalate into a direct conflict with Iran, creating a risk of miscalculation during a highly sensitive period.
However, in an interview on Sunday night, Netanyahu denied reports of a rift with the military chief, stating, “There is no dispute.” Political officials also rejected allegations that they are leveraging the Iran issue for electoral gain.
Claims of Orders to Topple the Iranian Government
In the same interview, Netanyahu claimed that he had instructed Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, and the military to work toward toppling the Iranian government. It remains unclear whether the aforementioned, covert military operation is linked to this directive.
Netanyahu further asserted that Iran has resumed its nuclear program. He framed Israel’s upcoming election as a matter of the nation’s very survival.
Earlier on Sunday, he shared an image on social media—generated using artificial intelligence (AI)—depicting a nuclear explosion over the Tel Aviv skyline, while simultaneously issuing a warning regarding the prospect of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
Conversely, opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan have accused Netanyahu of stoking fear and panic ahead of the elections.
