'Professional over political': Sa'ar pushes against demands that Zamir comply with gov't on Gaza

Yahoo

a day ago

Sa'ar wrote that IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir 'is required to express his professional opinion clearly and unequivocally to the political echelon.'
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and politicians backed IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir on Tuesday, calling on him to voice his opinion amid the current split between the government and military on the next steps in the war.
The backing came after National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's claim that Zamir is required to comply with the state on its choice of military action.
Zamir is expected to attend a security consultation meeting on Tuesday evening with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
Sources have said that Netanyahu reached the decision for the full occupation of the Gaza Strip, including operations in areas where hostages are being held.
The backing for Zamir to voice his opinion on the matter came after Ben-Gvir stated that the chief of staff was 'required to state clearly that he will fully comply with the directives of the political echelon, even if a decision is made for conquest and decisive action.'
Shortly afterward, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar made a post contradicting Ben-Gvir's statement on X/Twitter.
Sa'ar wrote that the chief of staff 'is required to express his professional opinion clearly and unequivocally to the political echelon.'
'I am convinced that he [Zamir] will do so,' Sa'ar continued. 'He is not required to clarify the subordination of the military echelon to the government's decisions, and this is self-evident, certainly for someone who has served the country in uniform for decades,' Sa'ar's post concluded.
Politicians firmly backed Zamir as well, calling on him to voice his opinion even if doing so would require going against the government.
MK Benny Gantz (Blue and White) wrote that the situation was 'a reckless attack by ministers against the chief of staff, simply because he fulfilled his duty and expressed his professional opinion."
Gantz also called the situation 'first-rate security negligence.'
'In the State of Israel, the chief of staff is subordinate to the political echelon – that has always been the case, and always will be – but he is not a puppet on a string and not a rubber stamp,' the former IDF head said.
Lapid: Disagreements should remain behind closed doors
Opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote that disagreements between the prime minister and chief of staff should 'remain in a closed room,' rather than be public.
'When the chief of staff knows that every disagreement will leak, when he knows someone will use it against him, he won't say everything he thinks, he won't bring up certain issues – and the decision-making process is harmed,' Lapid wrote.
Democrats Party member Nimrod Sheffer wrote in an X post that he has known Zamir for many years, and believes he is 'the right person to lead the IDF during its most difficult and challenging time in the history of the state.
'This is the time to tell the reckless government, 'enough is enough' and not resign,' Sheffer wrote.
Zamir had canceled his arranged high-level visit to the United States that was scheduled for Tuesday earlier this week, deciding to remain in Israel while Gaza ceasefire talks were at an impasse.
He was appointed to be Israel's chief of staff in February after his predecessor Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Herzi Halevi resigned, citing military failure during the October 7 Hamas attacks.
Amichai Stein and Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.
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