Israeli opposition Yashar party leader Gadi Eizenkot said Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that Israel destroyed Iranian nuclear bombs and saved Israel was “an outright lie,” stressing that he sees no immediate threat requiring military action ahead of the election.
Eizenkot made the remarks in an interview with Israel’s public broadcaster, six days before the general election scheduled for October 27.
Eizenkot, a former military chief of staff, said: “Iran has never possessed nuclear bombs,” rejecting Netanyahu’s accusation that he accepts the possibility of Tehran acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Netanyahu accused Eizenkot on Sunday of adopting an approach based on the possibility of containing a nuclear-armed Iran. In a statement published Tuesday, Netanyahu also attributed to Eizenkot the view that Israel should become accustomed to Iran possessing a nuclear weapon.
Regarding the possibility of launching a military attack on Iran before the election, Eizenkot stressed the importance of maintaining a high level of security readiness but said: “I do not see any direct and immediate threat that requires action.”
He said Netanyahu’s statements reflected a state of “detachment from reality and panic,” describing the prime minister as “unfit.”
Attack Plan
Earlier Wednesday, the British Financial Times reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter, that Netanyahu had instructed the Israeli military in early October to prepare for a large-scale attack on Iran.
According to the newspaper, the Israeli military prepared for several days of strikes that were scheduled to begin on October 10 and target nuclear facilities, sites belonging to the Iranian regime, and civilian infrastructure, including power stations.
The plan was not carried out because U.S. President Donald Trump opposed resuming the attacks before the U.S. congressional midterm elections scheduled for November 3, according to the same sources.
On October 13, Israel’s Channel 12 reported, citing informed officials, that Netanyahu had pressured Trump to resume attacks on Iran before elections in both countries.
Netanyahu’s office subsequently denied that the prime minister was seeking to ignite a war with Iran ahead of the elections. On October 14, Netanyahu also said he opposed launching a preemptive attack before the vote.
The developments come against the backdrop of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, which began in February, followed by Iranian retaliatory attacks.
Source: Anadolu Agency
