Eyal Zamir is an Israeli lieutenant general who has been chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces since March 2025. An Armored Corps officer, he was military secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from 2012 to 2015, head of Southern Command from 2015 to 2018 and deputy chief of staff from 2018 to 2021. He was director-general of the Defense Ministry from 2023 until his appointment.
Case
Netanyahu demanded that Israel's military chief, Shin Bet director and attorney general identify, investigate and prosecute those involved in NAZA, a documentary built on testimony from Unit 8200 soldiers. A press-freedom group had urged an end to legal threats.
Role at the time: Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, in remarks reported in English by Ynetnews
Statement summary
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said the film must be confronted decisively with legal, command and public-diplomacy tools, as he ordered the Military Advocate General to examine legal measures concerning the film and those involved in it.
“Such an attempt must be confronted decisively, using every tool at our disposal—legal, command, and public diplomacy.”
The case asks whether Israel should investigate and prosecute the people who made NAZA or appeared in it, as Netanyahu demanded on October 11. Zamir orders military lawyers to examine legal measures against the film and those involved, and says it must be confronted with every tool, "legal, command, and public diplomacy". That supports pursuing legal action against those involved, so we labeled it Defended or excused. The closest competing label is Challenged characterization, since he disputes the film's account; it loses because he orders legal steps rather than only rebutting the film.
Statement dates: September 14, 2026
Statement dates: September 14, 2026
Statement dates: September 14, 2026
Statement dates: September 14, 2026
