Netanyahu warns Iran may try to disrupt election, says 'don't test us'

JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran and its allies may attempt to interfere with Israel's upcoming elections, urging Iran not to provoke the nation. The Prime Minister's remarks came after Israeli Channel 12, citing unnamed sources, reported a disagreement between Netanyahu and the army chief, Eyal Zamir, over an unspecified directive related to the conflict with Iran.

Netanyahu denied the report. The Prime Minister highlighted his security expertise, emphasizing the ongoing war against Iran since February in collaboration with the United States. Netanyahu stated, "We have intelligence signs that our enemies, Iran and its proxies, could challenge us with attacks in order to disrupt the elections.

Don't test us. You will suffer disproportionate blows." The military was prepared for both defensive and offensive actions, he noted. Israel's Channel 12 reported that Zamir had demanded an in-depth discussion before executing the directive, along with legal guarantees and signatures from the political echelon. However, the report did not provide details of the directive, only citing sources with concerns about the war potentially being exploited for political purposes.

Netanyahu dismissed the report as "nothing but rubbish." Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of attempting to delay the vote, suggesting that Netanyahu may be seeking to escalate tensions with Iran to postpone the elections.