Opposition Leader Lapid Warns Iran and Russia Are Fueling Election Interference in Israel

Opposition leader Yair Lapid revealed in the Knesset on Wednesday alarming details about foreign influence operations targeting Israel’s upcoming elections. He stated that a detailed inter-ministerial plan to counter these threats was presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in August 2024 but remained unaddressed for an entire year. According to Lapid, the cyber defense head warned Netanyahu about the dangers amid ongoing conflict, and although Netanyahu requested a response plan and received one with budget and action steps, it was neither approved nor implemented.

Lapid accused Iran and Russia of orchestrating these influence campaigns to divide Israeli society, strengthen extremist factions, weaken moderates, and sow chaos and hatred. He emphasized that as of March 2026, no national policy or official body is actively managing these foreign influence efforts, despite the elections approaching. Lapid described the situation as a serious threat to the integrity of the electoral process, criticizing the government for failing to take meaningful action.

His remarks were met with repeated interruptions from coalition members, requiring the Knesset speaker to intervene multiple times. The issue of foreign influence operations has been a public concern amid Iran’s ongoing threats and regional tensions, but Lapid’s disclosure raises urgent questions about Israel’s preparedness to confront these challenges ahead of the elections.