Netanyahu Shifts From Declaring Iran Nuclear Threat Eliminated to Warning of Atomic Bomb on Tel Aviv
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dramatically altered his stance on the Iranian nuclear threat, recently shifting from claiming it was eliminated to warning of an impending atomic bomb on Tel Aviv. This change in rhetoric, occurring just before elections, is seen by critics as a fear-mongering tactic. Netanyahu's new warnings follow past assertions of victory after military operations and have been amplified by an endorsement from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Opposition leaders have strongly condemned Netanyahu's approach, calling it hysterical and a failure.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu now warns of an atomic bomb on Tel Aviv, a shift from past claims of eliminating Iran's nuclear threat.
- Netanyahu's fear-mongering campaign intensified after an endorsement from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
- Critics, including Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett, accuse Netanyahu of using lies and fear-mongering tactics before elections.
- Netanyahu previously claimed victory over Iran's nuclear program after operations "With All Dogs" and "Lion's Roar."
- Opposition leaders Yair Golan and Naftali Bennett criticized Netanyahu's rhetoric as "hysterical" and a "lie."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently shifted his rhetoric regarding the Iranian nuclear threat, moving from claims of victory to warnings of existential danger as the upcoming elections approach. In the past, particularly after operations "With All Dogs" in June 2025 and "Lion's Roar" in early 2026, Netanyahu and his associates, including Defense Minister Israel Katz and former commentator Yakov Bardugo, asserted that the Iranian nuclear threat had been neutralized. Netanyahu himself stated in June 2025 that "victory for generations" was achieved and that "we eliminated the nuclear [program]." However, in recent weeks, and especially just before the elections scheduled in less than 48 hours, Netanyahu has adopted a fear-mongering campaign. He posted on social media, accompanied by a doctored image of an atomic bomb exploding over Tel Aviv, warning of a "real and tangible existential danger" if he is not re-elected.
This shift in messaging intensified following an unprecedented public endorsement from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who stated that if Israel elects anyone other than Netanyahu, America might have to handle the Iranian threat alone, a task he is reluctant to undertake. Netanyahu had previously prepared the ground for this narrative, citing reports of a joint U.S.-Israeli operation in Iran post-U.S. midterm elections. He instructed the IDF, Mossad, and security agencies to prepare to "topple the regime in Iran" as the only way to permanently remove the threat.
Netanyahu's recent statements have drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Gadi Eisenkot, Chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, accused Netanyahu of being in "hysteria" and employing the same "lies and fear-mongering" tactics used in every election cycle, claiming Netanyahu has failed in his war aims against Iran. Naftali Bennett, Chairman of the Together party, criticized Netanyahu's vision of a besieged and isolated Israel, asserting that the country's strength predates and will outlast any single politician. Yair Golan, Chairman of the Democrats, called for Netanyahu to be removed from social media, stating that he and his circle have "lost it" and that Israel needs to return to "security and sanity."
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