Katz Denies Israel Planned to Strike Iran Before Parliamentary Elections

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday that Israel had not intended to launch an attack on Tehran before parliamentary elections, denying divisions between the political leadership and the military over Iran.

His remarks came amid reports of tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military chief of staff Eyal Zamir over how to deal with Iran.

Katz rejected the suggestion that the political and military leaderships were at odds, presenting their approach as aligned.

His denial addressed both the reported internal rift and the alleged timing of a possible strike. The remarks did not set out what action Israel might consider after the elections.