The Israeli military has reportedly urged that any attack on Iran be postponed until after Israel’s October 27 election to prevent disruption to the voting process and further erosion of public confidence in the military.
Haaretz reported that although intelligence assessments indicate Iran is expanding its ballistic missile stockpile and production capacity, an attack could undermine public trust and fuel perceptions that military action is politically motivated.
Public confidence in Israel’s military and security agencies has declined following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack. The military has also become entangled in political disputes over accountability, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces criticism over his leadership.
The warning follows a Channel 12 report that Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir told his counterparts that the United States was preparing to resume hostilities against Iran within the next three weeks.
Zamir reportedly warned that such an attack could lead to the postponement of Israel’s election, while Iran was expected to retaliate against Israel if Washington escalated its military action.
Concerns that Netanyahu could delay the election have also been raised by Israeli opposition figures.
Opinion polls suggest that neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the anti-Netanyahu opposition has sufficient support to secure a parliamentary majority and form a government.
Netanyahu previously claimed that Hamas could attack Israel ahead of the election. He also warned the previous week that the country’s enemies might launch an assault.
According to The Times of Israel, opposition politician Yair Lapid criticised Netanyahu after receiving an intelligence briefing concerning Hamas.
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak also told Channel 12 that Netanyahu was laying the groundwork for a war that could result in the election being postponed.
“Netanyahu is laying the groundwork for a war in a way that could postpone the election,” Barak said.
The military’s reported concerns come as US President Donald Trump considers a possible attack on Iran, raising fears that renewed hostilities could disrupt Israel’s upcoming election.
