Netanyahu and Lapid Meet Amid Security Concerns Before Elections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid on Tuesday night following Lapid's request for a security briefing. The meeting was prompted by statements Netanyahu made earlier that day during a visit to an Israeli Air Force base, where he indicated "indications of a potential attack by Israel's enemies before the elections." Lapid initially requested a briefing from Netanyahu as mandated by law, but his office later announced that Netanyahu's military secretary would provide it. Lapid then escalated his request, seeking a meeting with Netanyahu himself, along with the head of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, and the head of the Shin Bet security agency, David Barnea.

Following these exchanges, Netanyahu's office announced the Prime Minister would meet Lapid at his Jerusalem office after discussing the security situation with several ministers. Hebrew media cited security officials stating that no immediate threat had been detected, but the military was prepared for potential escalation or Iranian retaliation. These officials suggested Iran might target Israel before the US midterm elections, not necessarily with missile strikes on Israeli territory.

Sources close to Lapid indicated they did not believe there was a "real reason" for Netanyahu's warning. After the meeting, Lapid asserted, "In any scenario, the elections will be held on their scheduled date, just as local elections were held during wartime. We have an army, a Shin Bet, and a Central Elections Committee, and ultimately, you cannot scare and deceive everyone." He added, "The army is on alert, the Shin Bet is too, and the elections will be held on time and no attempts to disrupt them will succeed."

Netanyahu's office released a statement after the meeting, confirming that the Prime Minister briefed Lapid on "warnings about potential attacks on various fronts on the eve of the elections," with the participation of the military secretary and his deputy.