Opposition leader Yair Lapid urged calm after meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and accused the government of politicizing security warnings ahead of next month's election. He called for concrete measures — including drafting 15,000 haredi recruits — and highlighted the Chief of Staff's warnings about troop shortages. Lapid demanded a four-way coordination meeting with security and election officials. Government sources say detailed warnings were presented, but several officials told The Jerusalem Post there is currently no specific, imminent intelligence of an attack.
Lapid Urges Calm, Accuses Netanyahu Of Politicizing Security Ahead Of Election
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid speaks during a press conference as part of the B
Opposition leader Yair Lapid urged the public not to panic after a late-night meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that national security should be handled professionally and not used as part of an election narrative.
Lapid’s Response
Lapid said security warnings must be delivered responsibly. "Security threats must be handled professionally and responsibly," he said, adding: "Israel's security and IDF bases are not mere backdrops for election campaign videos." He stressed that rhetoric should be matched by concrete policy actions.
Concrete Demands
To demonstrate seriousness about defence readiness, Lapid proposed drafting 15,000 haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Israelis into the Israel Defense Forces. He also highlighted internal military concerns, noting that "the Chief of Staff has raised ten red flags regarding the shortage of combat troops and the erosion of readiness within the IDF."
Coordination Request
Lapid said he demanded a four-way coordination meeting including himself, Prime Minister Netanyahu, the head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and Justice Noam Sohlberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee, to align security and electoral arrangements ahead of voting.
Netanyahu warns of indications that Israel's enemies may attack in run up to election from Tel Nof Air Force Base. (credit: MA'AYAN TOAF/GPO)
Government Reaction
The governing Likud party posted on X that Lapid issued his statement only two minutes after the meeting ended, implying the remarks may have been pre-prepared rather than reflecting new information from the briefing. Netanyahu's office countered that the meeting included detailed warnings about possible attacks on multiple fronts.
Netanyahu’s Warning And Official Assessments
During a visit to Tel Nof Air Force Base, Mr. Netanyahu warned there are "signs that, in the lead-up to the elections, our enemies may try to strike Israeli targets," though he did not name specific actors.
Several Israeli officials later told The Jerusalem Post that there is currently no specific, concrete intelligence pointing to an imminent attack. "We are on high alert and closely monitoring Iran's actions. The escalation in the West Bank could also quickly turn into something much broader. But there is currently no specific intelligence warning on the table," one official said. A second official warned that Tehran could choose to launch missiles at any time, but described that as an option rather than an immediate threat.
Election Timing
Lapid reiterated that the upcoming elections should proceed as scheduled, arguing there is no valid reason to postpone or relocate the vote and that democratic timelines must be respected even amid security concerns.
Photo credit: MA'AYAN TOAF/GPO
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