Lapid accuses Netanyahu of using national security as campaign prop

• Yair Lapid met with Benjamin Netanyahu following a video from an air base in which Netanyahu warned of pre-election attack plots.
• He accused Netanyahu of using military facilities for campaign props and generating unnecessary public panic.
• Lapid confirmed security forces are fully prepared, insisting the vote will proceed as scheduled without disruption.
• He demanded a joint panel with Netanyahu, the Shin Bet chief, and the Central Elections Committee chairman for security oversight.

'Israeli' Opposition Leader Yair Lapid issued a sharp statement following a security briefing with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing the premier of leveraging national security threats and military installations for political fearmongering four weeks ahead of the general election.

The meeting came shortly after Netanyahu released a video filmed at Tel Nof air base warning that 'Israel’s' enemies might attempt to carry out attacks leading up to the vote.

While pledging to maintain the confidentiality of the security briefing, Lapid forcefully criticized the Prime Minister's public messaging strategy.

"Security threats are something that must be addressed professionally and responsibly; Israel's security and IDF bases are not props for election campaign videos," Lapid stated. "Updates on threats should come from professional bodies, from the IDF, from the Shin Bet, not from the Twitter account of a politician in the midst of an election campaign."

Addressing public anxiety sparked by the government's announcements, Lapid insisted that state security institutions are equipped to maintain safety throughout the electoral process without disrupting the vote.

"Before October 7th, Netanyahu ignored every warning; 28 days before the elections, suddenly he's busy with fearmongering," Lapid charged. "Without going into details, the IDF, Shin Bet, and the police are prepared for the elections, and there is no reason to put the public into a panic."

Lapid also connected the security discussion to ongoing debates over military manpower and conscription exemptions, recalling warnings issued by military leadership regarding personnel shortages.

"Half a year ago, the Chief of Staff said he was 'raising 10 red flags' over a shortage of combatants and burnout in the IDF," Lapid noted. "If Netanyahu is so worried about the security situation, he should enlist the 15,000 ultra-Orthodox men that the IDF is missing."

Asserting that no security concerns should be utilized as a pretext to delay or alter the democratic process, Lapid emphasized that the scheduled legislative elections will take place on time.

"In any case, the elections will take place on time, and no one has an excuse to disrupt them," Lapid added.

To institutionalize security oversight and prevent unilateral political messaging regarding election threats, Lapid formally demanded a joint four-way meeting with key state officials.

"I have demanded from the Prime Minister a quadrilateral meeting, with the head of the Shin Bet—who, by law, is responsible for defending democracy—and with the chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, to ensure that everyone is updated and coordinated ahead of the elections," Lapid concluded.