JERUSALEM, 26 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and army chief Eyal Zamir reportedly clashed over a proposed military operation that could trigger a confrontation with Iran ahead of Israel’s October 27 parliamentary elections, according to Israeli media reports cited by Anadolu. The reports said Zamir sought a detailed discussion of the proposed operation and formal legal authorisation from political leaders before any action was taken. The nature of the proposed operation was not disclosed, but sources cited by Israeli media expressed concern that escalating tensions with Tehran could be used for electoral advantage and might lead to a wider confrontation at a sensitive political and security juncture. Netanyahu rejected reports of a dispute with Zamir, describing them as “nonsense” during an interview with Israel’s Channel 14 on Sunday and insisting that no confrontation had taken place. Defence Minister Israel Katz also dismissed reports of divisions between the political leadership and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) over Iran policy, calling the claims “entirely baseless and false” in a post on X on Monday. Katz said there was complete coordination between the political and military leadership and stated that Israel had no intention of launching an attack on Iran before the elections. Opposition leader Yair Lapid, however, referred to the reports in a post on X on Sunday, accusing Netanyahu of seeking to escalate tensions with Iran in order to postpone the vote. Netanyahu has made national security a central theme of his election campaign, arguing that he is best placed to achieve Israel’s objectives in the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran. The allegations and denials come as Israel approaches a closely contested election amid heightened regional tensions.