Netanyahu and IDF chief Zamir repeatedly butting heads in meetings, eroding trust — report

Relations between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir have been increasingly tense over the past few weeks, with the two verbally clashing and the premier subsequently deciding to blindside Zamir with the nomination of Maj. Gen. David Zini as Shin Bet chief, Channel 12 reports, quoting unnamed sources close to Netanyahu.

Netanyahu only updated Zamir about the decision to nominate Zini shortly before this was publicly announced.

The reason for this, a source close to the premier tells the network, is that Netanyahu “didn’t trust [Zamir] to not torpedo the appointment, and wanted this to be a fait accompli.”

The source adds that the relationship between Netanyahu and Zamir is “complex.”

“The chief of staff has repeatedly butted heads with him and the feeling is that he goes mad every time the prime minister says ‘I ordered’ or ‘I instructed,'” it says. “The prime minister holds his professionalism in high regard and is satisfied with him, but feels like he’s being spiteful and trying to prove he’s strong and unwavering, even though nobody thinks otherwise. This causes tension in meetings.”