Israeli coalition members expressed fury over IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir’s letter on Monday expressing his opposition to the law freezing the arrests of bnei yeshivos, accusing him of political motives, especially in light of the letter’s timing.

Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, the chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs Committee, issued an unusually strong statement against Zamir in response to his letter, accusing the IDF Chief of Staff of “calculated political timing” and noting that the IDF had failed to present “even a single case” in which the arrest of a Chareidi individual resulted in enlistment.

“The question must be asked why the letter was sent only after the committee had completed its discussions and voting, and why it was published davka on the day the bill was due to reach the plenum,” Bismuth wrote. “If the goal had been to improve the bill’s wording, the IDF had approximately three weeks to do so. It is difficult to view this timing as a coincidence.”

Bismuth added that the final version of the bill was formulated in full coordination with Defense Ministry representatives and in accordance with their explicit requests. The committee also made the unusual decision to allow the Defense Ministry to submit two reservations after the legal deadline had passed. Both reservations were accepted in full and incorporated into the final text.

Responding to Zamir’s claim that the legislation would divert critical military attention and resources during wartime, Bismuth wrote: “It is precisely the arrests that do not lead to enlistment and fail to achieve their intended purpose that divert the attention and resources of the security forces for no benefit.”

A senior security official called the letter a “political move at the lowest level.” Speaking to Channel 14 News, the official said that the bill had been under discussion in the Knesset committee for approximately three weeks, during which the IDF representative attending the hearings “did not say a word.” Zamir sent the letter and leaked it to the media only after the committee completed its deliberations and approved the bill.

“The letter is a disgrace and an improper intervention in the legislative process,” the official said. “If we weren’t on the eve of elections, this could very well have led to another deep rift between the political and military leadership.”

Likud MK Chanoch Milwidsky, chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, excoriated the IDF Chief of Staff in an interview with Galey Yisrael on Tuesday morning. “Zamir lost his way a long time ago,” he said. “His conduct toward the legislative branch is outrageous. I only wish he showed the same determination when dealing with our enemies.”

Likud MM Tally Gotliv called for Zamir’s dismissal, writing: “Zamir, I suggest you know your place! Know your place! I’m not threatening you, of course, because I have no authority to do so. But your disgraceful letter yesterday warrants your dismissal. You crossed into the political arena and, in doing so, weakened the morale of our soldiers and the citizens of Israel, sounding no different than an opposition MK. If it were up to me, I would dismiss you without hesitation—the sooner, the better.”

Shas MK Yossi Taieb also slammed Zamir in an interview with Kol Chai on Tuesday morning, accusing the IDF Chief of Staff of “siding with the opposition.”