Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Iranian leaders wanted him to suffer setbacks in next week’s Knesset election and were trying to interfere in the election.
In an interview with Army Radio, the prime minister said, “This is the truth; it isn’t spin. This is intelligence information that Iran and its proxies want to try to influence the elections because they know we have changed the equation, that we are stronger than ever.”
Asked if Iran was “on its way to a surprise attack,” he replied: “We are preparing for that possibility.”
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Prime Minister Netanyahu campaigning in Rehovot, Monday. Credit: Tomer Appelbaum
Prime Minister Netanyahu campaigning in Rehovot, Monday. Credit: Tomer Appelbaum
Also Tuesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah against joining any Iranian attack on Israel, writing on X that the IDF was prepared to seize additional territory in the Nabatieh and Litani areas of southern Lebanon.
Katz said residents would be evacuated from any territory captured in such an operation and that the area would then be incorporated permanently into Israel’s security zone in Lebanon.
As Israel and the United States discuss renewing the war in Iran, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth secretly visited Israel on Monday and met with Netanyahu and Katz at Ovda Airbase, an Israeli official confirmed to Haaretz. Hegseth’s office declined to comment on the report, and Netanyahu’s office did not respond to questions.
On Monday, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced a vacation blackout for troops from Thursday until Tuesday as part of preparations for Election Day. However, IDF sources say that the decision was not based on any concrete warning but on the higher likelihood of attacks during a sensitive, national event.
U.S. President Donald Trump also hinted at renewed attacks in Iran. On Sunday, he announced his support for Netanyahu, noting he would “finish the job,” in reference to the war in Iran.
The prime minister made similar remarks last week in an interview with Army Radio, when he said there were signs that Iran wanted to attack.