Israel’s Lapid Charges Netanyahu with Political Fearmongering Ahead of Election

Opposition leader dismisses Netanyahu’s warning of possible attacks during next month’s general election.

Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of political fearmongering after the incumbent leader warned that the country’s enemies could launch attacks before next month’s general election.

Lapid, who heads the Yesh Atid party, dismissed the warning following a meeting with the prime minister on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu posted an online video showing himself posing in front of a fighter jet at a military base, stating there were “indications that, ahead of the elections, our enemies will try to attack us”.

He did not specify which adversary he had in mind. However, in recent weeks, he has issued warnings to Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Authority, promising retaliation in the event of an attack.

Lapid requested an urgent security briefing following the warning, stating in an online post afterward that he was certain the election would proceed on schedule and that “there is no reason to panic the public”.

“The elections will take place on time, and no one has an excuse to disrupt them,” he stated.

He accused Netanyahu of using military bases as “props for election campaign videos” and of failing to heed warnings before the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, which triggered Israel’s war on Gaza. More than 76,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.

“Netanyahu ignored every warning before October 7, and now, just 28 days before the election, he is suddenly busy fearmongering,” Lapid said. He added, “I will not violate the confidentiality of the security briefing, but it must be said that security threats must be handled professionally and responsibly.”

The election, scheduled for October 7, is Israel’s first national vote since the Hamas-led attacks of October 2023, which plunged the Middle East into turmoil as Israel engaged in military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. The election could determine whether Netanyahu remains in power following one of the most consequential periods in Israel’s history, or is defeated by centrist rivals promising to usher in a new era.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, was first elected prime minister in 1996. In recent weeks, he has had to deny media reports claiming that Middle Eastern partners warned him of a potential Hamas attack—an allegation that his political rivals have seized upon.

Polls indicate he is in a close race to remain in power.

According to a Reuters polling average, no clear path to power exists. The average shows the party of Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief who has emerged as Netanyahu’s most formidable rival, leading the prime minister’s right-wing Likud party by two percentage points.

Based on this average, parties opposed to Netanyahu would hold 64 seats in the 120-member Knesset—15 more than the parties backing him—but they may struggle to form a viable coalition.

Lapid is one of several opposition figures in the race. He, Eisenkot, and other opposition leaders have agreed to coordinate their efforts to remove Netanyahu’s government. Under the agreement announced last week, each leader pledged to work in their respective constituencies to boost voter turnout and attract support from various sectors of society, aiming to secure a majority and form a new government.

In a separate post on Tuesday, the prime minister said he had held a security briefing with Lapid, raising alerts about potential attacks “on the various fronts ahead of the elections”.

He stressed that he maintains regular briefings with the opposition leader.

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