Senior defense officials have accused Defense Minister Israel Katz of attempting to politicize the army amid a public dispute with the Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir. Katz has alleged that Zamir collaborated with anti-government figures to improperly alter the military's hiring process, a claim rejected by several senior officials who insist Zamir acted appropriately. The officials warn that Katz's actions could undermine the traditional chain of command and have far-reaching consequences for the career officer corps, potentially transforming the military's appointment process into a politically driven system. They further suggest that Katz's criticism stems from disagreements over issues such as ultra-Orthodox enlistment and military operations in Gaza City, but note that Zamir does not plan to resign over the matter.