(Oct. 16, 2026 \/ JNS)\n <\/p>\n
Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levi met with senior commanders on Wednesday to review the force\u2019s readiness for the Oct. 27 Knesset election, he said in a joint statement with the Central Elections Committee on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are prepared for any scenario in order to safeguard the integrity of the elections, in all operational aspects,\u201d Levi said.<\/p>\n
CEC Acting Director-General Din Livneh attended the meeting alongside representatives of the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet).<\/p>\n
The discussion focused on maintaining public order and ensuring that the vote for the 26th Knesset is held properly and safely.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cooperation between the Central Elections Committee and the Israel Police is unprecedented in its scope. We were presented with record preparedness by the police,\u201d Livneh said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thank the entire police, and the commissioner in particular, for the professional preparations and the full mobilization,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Levi stressed that the Israel Police \u201cis a professional and apolitical police, and will remain so.\u201d He said he had ordered that no officer voice political views while on duty, and that anyone who violates the order \u201cwill not be able to continue serving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz<\/a> warned on Tuesday that Israel has identified attempts by Iran and its proxies to carry out terrorist attacks aimed at influencing the results of the Oct. 27 vote.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must stand united and make clear that political disagreements will not undermine our collective resolve against our enemies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Katz pledged that the political echelon would act alongside the IDF and other security agencies to protect the country, stressing that security decisions would be made \u201cwithout regard to any other consideration.\u201d He warned that anyone attacking Israel before or after the election, or harming Israeli soldiers or civilians, would \u201cpay the heaviest price.\u201d<\/p>\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned his Cabinet on Tuesday that Hamas would try to challenge Israel ahead of the election.<\/p>\n \u201cPrecisely because Hamas is so weak, it will try to challenge us with the remainder of its forces ahead of the elections,\u201d the prime minister said. \u201cWe are ready for this. First of all, we will thwart such attempts. And, in any case, we will respond to them with tremendous force if they make this mistake. I say to all our enemies: \u2018Look at what we did to you on seven fronts in the War of Revival. Don\u2019t tangle with us.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Also on Tuesday, Netanyahu said that Jerusalem is prepared for any scenario, including what he called a \u201cturning of barrels<\/a>\u201d by the Palestinian Authority. He warned enemies not to test the Jewish state.<\/p>\n \u201cOur enemies are thinking of testing us these days ahead of the elections,\u201d Netanyahu said during a visit to the seam line area of the Samaria security barrier.<\/p>\n The IDF has deployed the 98th Division to Judea and Samaria to bolster security and maintain regional stability in response to a surge in intelligence alerts, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir<\/a> announced on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Zamir cautioned that the potential for multi-front escalation has grown and emphasized that troops are prepared to swiftly thwart terror threats.<\/p>\n \u201cThe IDF is at a high level of readiness to launch extensive offensive operations against anyone who attempts to harm Israeli civilians,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n