Netanyahu Warns of Election-Eve Attack, Calls Emergency Meeting

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark warning on September 29, stating that Israel's adversaries might attempt to attack the country in the lead-up to the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for October 27. Speaking at the Tel Nof airbase, Netanyahu declared, "There are signs that ahead of the elections, our enemies will try to attack us." He asserted Israel's readiness to counter any threat, adding, "Don't mess with us. Our long arm will reach you anywhere, anytime."

The prime minister's statement comes amid heightened regional tensions and the active election campaign. Opposition leader Yair Lapid immediately demanded clarification on the nature of the threat. Initially, Netanyahu's office indicated the military secretary would brief Lapid, but a personal meeting with Netanyahu was later scheduled for 11:30 PM.

Lapid further requested that Shin Bet head David Zini and Central Elections Committee chair Judge Noam Solberg also attend the meeting, emphasizing the need for opposition leadership and election officials to be informed if specific attack intelligence exists. The "Yahadut" party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, called for the removal of Netanyahu's airbase video within four hours, arguing that national security should not be conflated with election campaigning and that the opposition must receive relevant information if a serious threat is present.

Questions were also raised regarding the use of a military base for a political statement, with "Yahadut" suggesting potential violations of election law. The Central Elections Committee has previously addressed complaints about the use of state and military resources for campaigning. Other opposition figures, including from Yisrael Beiteinu, called for urgent security measures, potentially including reservist mobilization, if the threat is immediate.

Netanyahu's current warning differs from his remarks weeks prior, when he suggested Iran was refraining from attacking Israel and knew why, while still threatening severe retaliation if attacked. The specifics of the intelligence behind his latest statement have not been publicly disclosed.