Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Yair Lapid concluded a 30-minute security meeting on Tuesday evening. The briefing was convened after Netanyahu claimed there were indications that Israel’s enemies might attempt to launch an attack ahead of the upcoming election.
Following the meeting, Lapid made clear that he would not disclose the classified security information presented to him, but he sharply criticized Netanyahu's public presentation of the threat.
“I will not violate the confidentiality of the security briefing, but it must be said: security threats need to be handled professionally and responsibly. Israel’s security and IDF bases are not backdrop props for campaign videos," Lapid said.
Lapid argued that sensitive security updates should be communicated exclusively through official channels. “Updates on threats should come from the professionals - from the IDF and the Shin Bet - not from the Twitter account of a politician in the middle of an election campaign," he emphasized.
Referencing the events leading up to the October 7 attacks, Lapid added: “Before October 7, Netanyahu ignored every warning, yet 28 days before the election, he is suddenly busy stoking public fear."
Turning to Election Day preparations, the opposition leader sought to reassure the public: “Without going into details, the IDF, the Shin Bet, and the police are fully prepared for the election, and there is no reason to cause public panic."
Lapid also linked the security situation to ongoing manpower shortages within the military. “Six months ago, the IDF Chief of Staff warned that he was ‘raising 10 red flags’ over troop shortages and operational strain. If Netanyahu is so concerned about the security situation, he should draft the 15,000 haredim missing from the IDF," he said.
“In any case, the election will take place as scheduled, and no one has an excuse to disrupt it," Lapid added.
Lapid noted that he had demanded a follow-up meeting with key defense and election officials. “I demanded that the Prime Minister hold a four-way meeting with the head of the Shin Bet - who is legally responsible for safeguarding democracy - and Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, to ensure everyone is fully aligned and coordinated ahead of the election," he said.
The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu completed a short while ago a security update briefing with Head of the Opposition, Yair Lapid, attended by the Prime Minister's Military Secretary and the Intelligence Officer of the Military Secretariat."
It added, "During the intelligence update, alerts of possible attacks on the various fronts ahead of the elections were presented in detail."
Lapid had demanded the urgent security briefing following remarks by Netanyahu, who said during a visit to the Tel Nof Air Force Base that there are indications that Israel’s enemies will attempt to attack ahead of the elections.
“We have indications that, ahead of the elections, our enemies will try to attack us," Netanyahu said. “So from here, from the Air Force base, from the long arm of the State of Israel, I send you a message: Don’t mess with us, not now and not ever. Our long arm will reach you anywhere and at any time."
Following the remarks, Lapid contacted the Prime Minister’s Office and requested that an urgent security briefing be arranged.
“Lapid is seeking to understand whether the threats are real, and if so, how the Prime Minister is preparing this time to ensure that the elections are held without disruption," a statement on his behalf said.
The Yashar! party, headed by Gadi Eisenkot, also responded to Netanyahu’s remarks and called for the opposition leader to be briefed.
“If Netanyahu’s statements regarding the security threats are accurate, this requires the immediate briefing of opposition leader Yair Lapid, in order to ensure that this is indeed a genuine threat and not a political move intended to affect the election campaign," the party stated.
“It is absolutely forbidden to mix Israel’s security with the election campaign - even in appearance," the party added.
The Prime Minister’s Office responded that Netanyahu regularly holds security briefing meetings with Lapid and that their most recent meeting took place approximately two weeks ago, on September 14.
The Prime Minister’s Office added that, in light of recent developments, “The Prime Minister instructed his military secretary to brief the opposition leader today on the latest developments."
During his remarks at Tel Nof, Netanyahu also addressed military operations on the various fronts.
“I am here at the Air Force base with our heroic pilots and our wonderful ground crews. We are operating constantly on all fronts," he said.
Netanyahu added that alongside Israel’s achievements, pressure is being exerted on the country to withdraw.
“There are tremendous achievements, but there are also tremendous pressures, and the pressures are to withdraw, to give up the great achievements attained through the heroism of our soldiers. I am not allowing that to happen, and I will not allow it to happen."