Defense Minister Israel Katz appeared to ease his standoff with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Wednesday, retreating from his demand for a full independent re-investigation of the military’s October 7, 2023 failures.
After meeting with Zamir, Katz announced that Defense Establishment Comptroller Brig. Gen. (res.) Yair Volansky will observe the IDF’s ongoing “supplementary investigations,” rather than conduct a separate review — a significant shift from Katz’s earlier position.
Tensions had escalated after an external panel led by Maj. Gen. (res.) Sami Turgeman found gaps in the IDF’s initial probes, including insufficient examination of intelligence warnings prior to Hamas’s attack. Zamir responded by ordering follow-up investigations across the army.
Katz previously froze senior promotions while insisting on a new comptroller-led review. But following this week’s meeting, he approved nearly all promotions on Zamir’s list, aside from Col. (res.) German Giltman, whom he blocked over involvement in the Brothers in Arms protest movement.
The comptroller will now monitor investigations involving intelligence oversight, the navy, the Operations Directorate, and the Air Force’s October 7 performance — including findings related to Brig. Gen. Omer Tischler’s proposed promotion.
A senior IDF officer described the renewed cooperation as constructive, saying, “We continue forward, the security of the country above all else.”
