Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to push ahead with a military operation against Iran just days before Israel’s October 27 election, with the backing of Mossad chief Roman Gofman. But the plan was stopped after the United States learnt about the preparations, Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported on Saturday.
The report claimed Netanyahu wanted to proceed with the operation despite opposition from other senior security officials. They feared it could trigger a dangerous escalation with Iran and potentially force a postponement of the election.
The preparations had reportedly gathered pace before an Israeli official acted recklessly, allowing the Americans to learn about the plan. The administration in Washington then moved quickly to stop it, the outlet reported. The report did not specify what the proposed operation involved or which targets inside Iran were being considered.
Netanyahu’s office denied the report, saying, “The Prime Minister himself made it clear in real time that an attack before the elections in Israel is not on the agenda.”
Mossad chief backed Netanyahu’s Iran plan
According to the report, Gofman supported Netanyahu’s push for action against Iran, while other senior officials in Israel’s security establishment opposed the move over concerns about its timing and possible consequences.
The latest report follows an earlier Channel 12 investigation, published on October 25, which described an unusually sharp confrontation between Netanyahu and Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir over a proposed military operation before the election.
The report added that Zamir wanted a detailed discussion before the operation could go ahead. He also sought signed legal authorisation from the political leadership.
A security source quoted by Channel 12 warned that the proposed action could lead to a rapid confrontation with Iran at a particularly sensitive moment and result in a miscalculation.
The October 25 report also raised concerns among military officials that the political leadership was attempting to use the Iran issue for electoral gain. Netanyahu later dismissed the report as “nonsense” in an interview with Channel 14, saying there had been no confrontation with Zamir.
A report by Haaretz, published on October 26, also pointed to disagreements within Israel’s security establishment over the proposed action and Gofman’s support for it. The Mossad said differences of opinion were part of normal professional discussions within the organisation.
The report claimed Netanyahu wanted to proceed with the operation despite opposition from other senior security officials. They feared it could trigger a dangerous escalation with Iran and potentially force a postponement of the election.
The preparations had reportedly gathered pace before an Israeli official acted recklessly, allowing the Americans to learn about the plan. The administration in Washington then moved quickly to stop it, the outlet reported. The report did not specify what the proposed operation involved or which targets inside Iran were being considered.
Netanyahu’s office denied the report, saying, “The Prime Minister himself made it clear in real time that an attack before the elections in Israel is not on the agenda.”
Mossad chief backed Netanyahu’s Iran plan
According to the report, Gofman supported Netanyahu’s push for action against Iran, while other senior officials in Israel’s security establishment opposed the move over concerns about its timing and possible consequences.
The latest report follows an earlier Channel 12 investigation, published on October 25, which described an unusually sharp confrontation between Netanyahu and Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir over a proposed military operation before the election.
The report added that Zamir wanted a detailed discussion before the operation could go ahead. He also sought signed legal authorisation from the political leadership.
A security source quoted by Channel 12 warned that the proposed action could lead to a rapid confrontation with Iran at a particularly sensitive moment and result in a miscalculation.
The October 25 report also raised concerns among military officials that the political leadership was attempting to use the Iran issue for electoral gain. Netanyahu later dismissed the report as “nonsense” in an interview with Channel 14, saying there had been no confrontation with Zamir.
A report by Haaretz, published on October 26, also pointed to disagreements within Israel’s security establishment over the proposed action and Gofman’s support for it. The Mossad said differences of opinion were part of normal professional discussions within the organisation.
