The Israeli prime minister riled senior commanders by advancing the candidacy of his military secretary, Maj Gen Yihanan Locker, for the post after the present commander signalled his desire to retire.
Mr Netanyahu's reported interference in the military appointments system has prompted a political backlash in Israel and elicited a stiff protest from Gen Benny Gantz, the chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces.
In a sign of fresh tension over Iran between Israel's defence and political establishments, Gen Gantz is backing Maj Gen Amir Eshel, said to be opposed to military strikes against Tehran's nuclear facilities, for the position.
"A situation in which a major general is appointed against the wishes of the chief of staff is untenable," Gen Gantz told a government committee, according to Israeli newspaper reports.
Mr Netanyahu, supported by Ehud Barak, his defence minister, is widely known to lead a camp favouring military action against Iran but he has run into persistent opposition from senior military and intelligence commanders who question whether unilateral air strikes would be effective.
The prime minister has also come under intense US pressure to tone down a recent surge in belligerent rhetoric towards Iran.
Following a telephone conversation with President Barack Obama earlier this month, Mr Netanyahu grudgingly gave his backing to new US and EU sanctions against Iran.
But in a speech delivered ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which will be marked on Friday, Mr Netanyahu returned to a familiar theme by giving warning that Israel had the military means to defend itself against foreign aggression. His comments appeared clearly aimed at Iran.
"The Jewish people and the Israeli government have the right, the obligation and the ability to prevent another destruction of the Jewish people or an attack on its state," he said.
The Telegraph
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