Netanyahu-Zamir dispute over striking Iran and remarks on toppling the regime ahead of the Knesset election

⏱️ Timeline

1. 25 Oct 2026, 21:13 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israel's Channel 14 that his country would strike Iran again and that he had instructed Mossad and the Israeli army to work toward toppling the Iranian regime, warning Iran and its allies against trying to obstruct Tuesday's Israeli legislative election and saying the army was ready for defensive and offensive action.
2. 25 Oct 2026, 21:32 Israel's Channel 13 reported an unprecedented dispute between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the chief of the Israeli general staff over carrying out a strike on Iran before the Israeli election. Israel's Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu wanted to strike Iran before the election, while Zamir asked for in-depth consultations before any decision.
3. 25 Oct 2026, 21:59 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports of a dispute with the chief of staff over Iran, describing them as false. In the same Channel 14 interview he said Iran resembles a "wounded scorpion" that could deliver a final sting to Israel.
4. 25 Oct 2026, 22:47 US President Donald Trump, commenting on Netanyahu's threat to strike Iran again, said "not tonight", according to Alghad TV.
5. 25 Oct 2026, 23:36 Israel's Channel 12 reported an "unprecedented confrontation" between Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir after the latter received a political directive to "carry out an unspecified military move" against Iran before Tuesday's election; Zamir asked for a serious discussion and demanded a signed legal document authorising the move, while Netanyahu denied any dispute.
6. 26 Oct 2026, 09:54 An Israeli security source told CNN that Netanyahu strongly wanted to persuade US President Donald Trump to carry out a joint attack on Iran before the election, but Trump did not agree, and that one reason was Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir telling US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine that such an attack would harm the election in Israel and lead to its postponement, and that Israel suspended its plans.
7. 26 Oct 2026, 10:17 Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz denied Channel 12's report of a sharp dispute between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir over a military operation that could renew confrontation with Iran before the Knesset election, saying the reports were completely false, while the opposition accused Netanyahu of trying to exploit the army and the confrontation with Tehran for electoral purposes.
8. 26 Oct 2026, 13:34 Gadi Eisenkot declared his support for Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir amid Channel 12's report of a sharp dispute with Netanyahu over political directives related to Iran; Netanyahu described the report as "nonsense" and the army issued no immediate comment.
9. 26 Oct 2026, 17:32 The Israeli army denied any dispute between Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressing that Zamir's considerations were "security, professional, objective and formal only", and Defence Minister Israel Katz denied any Israeli intention to attack Iran before the election, calling such reports "completely false".
10. 27 Oct 2026, 07:03 Polling stations opened on Tuesday morning for the 26th Knesset election, and the elections committee said more than 95% of polling stations had opened. About 7.3 million voters are eligible to choose 120 members from 37 lists, with any coalition needing at least 61 seats; stations close at 10 pm with preliminary results announced afterwards.
11. 27 Oct 2026, 08:31 Israeli President Isaac Herzog cast his vote in the Knesset election, as did a number of party leaders, including Avigdor Liberman, Naftali Bennett, Sami Abu Shehadeh, Itamar Ben Gvir and Israel Katz.
12. 27 Oct 2026, 12:33 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cast his vote at a polling station in Jerusalem in the Knesset election.

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