Israel’s Lapid accuses Netanyahu of ‘fear-mongering’ over attack warning

What the report says

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of stoking fear for political gain after Netanyahu warned that Israel could face an attack before next month’s general election. According to Al Jazeera, Lapid dismissed the warning after a security meeting with the prime minister on Tuesday and said the public should not be panicked ahead of the vote.

Netanyahu had posted a video from a military base earlier that day, saying there were signs Israel’s enemies might try to strike before the election. He did not name a specific adversary, though Al Jazeera noted that in recent weeks he has publicly warned Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Palestinian Authority. Lapid criticized the use of military imagery in campaign messaging and argued that security threats should be handled carefully and professionally.

The election is scheduled for October 7 and will be Israel’s first since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza and wider regional conflict. Al Jazeera said the vote could determine whether Netanyahu remains in office after a long tenure or is replaced by centrist challengers.

The report also said polling shows a tight race, with no clear path to power for any bloc. Lapid and other opposition figures have agreed to coordinate efforts to unseat Netanyahu, while the prime minister said he regularly briefs Lapid on security issues.