Report: Netanyahu furious with Katz over Bluth replacement; Zamir tells general: ‘You’re not going anywhere’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was furious with Defense Minister Israel Katz over his live-on-television announcement yesterday that he was replacing IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, calling it “obscene behavior” and demanding clarification from him, Channel 13 reports.

Katz’s office later denies talking with Netanyahu about the subject, claiming that the Prime Minister’s Office has also denied this.

Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reaffirms his support for Bluth, telling him during a General Staff forum meeting, “You have my full support. You’re not going anywhere,” Hebrew media reports.

Katz, on the other hand, reportedly escalated his criticisms of Zamir during a meeting with West Bank settlement leaders earlier today, questioning why the chief of staff was “so surprised” by the attempted replacement of Bluth.

According to reports, Katz noted that Zamir himself had submitted Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa’s candidacy for the Central Command post as early as April.

Sources close to Katz cited by Channel 12 suggest Zamir had nominated Bar Kalifa only to prevent him from becoming Netanyahu’s military secretary.

“Could it be that he wanted Bar Kalifa as the Central Command candidate only so that the prime minister wouldn’t take him to serve as his military secretary?” they question, adding: “The moment the prime minister chose a military secretary, Bar Kalifa suddenly became unsuitable as Central Command chief?”

Separately, sources close to Bar Kalifa deny reports that he had committed to carrying out Katz’s policies in the West Bank, telling Channel 12: “He has made no commitment regarding any particular policy. In any event, he will act in accordance with the chief of staff’s decisions and the needs of the IDF.”

They add that Bar Kalifa has a good relationship with Bluth and is not allowing the public dispute to affect him.