Netanyahu Briefs Opposition Leader Lapid on Security Threats Ahead of Elections

Opposition leader Yair Lapid met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday for a security briefing, following an unusual warning from Netanyahu that Israel's enemies might attempt attacks ahead of the upcoming elections. Lapid requested the meeting to understand the threat landscape and preparedness for the election period, prompted by Netanyahu's statement that "there are signs that ahead of the elections our enemies will try to attack us."

However, security officials stated that there is currently no concrete intelligence of a specific attack and the situation assessment has not changed. Following the meeting, Lapid emphasized that security matters should be handled professionally and responsibly, not as election campaign material. He criticized Netanyahu for using security threats for political purposes, contrasting it with his alleged inaction before October 7th.

Lapid asserted that the IDF, Shin Bet, and police are prepared for the elections and there is no reason to cause public panic. He also linked the security concerns to the debate over drafting ultra-Orthodox men, suggesting that if Netanyahu is worried about the security situation, he should act to draft the 15,000 missing soldiers from that community.

Lapid further called for a four-way meeting involving himself, Netanyahu, Shin Bet chief David Barnea, and Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Noam Sohlberg to coordinate election day preparations. The Likud party responded by criticizing Lapid's swift release of a statement attacking the Prime Minister, suggesting the statement was prepared in advance and not a genuine reaction to the briefing.