Other03 October, 20262 min read
Ehud Barak Says Benjamin Netanyahu Prepares War To Postpone Israel’s October 27 Election
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Barak claims Netanyahu is preparing war to postpone Israel’s October 27 elections Barak urges removal from office and action to delay elections
Anadolu Ajansı was read line by line by the Watchdog: 8.3. See the score →
Barak accuses Netanyahu
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak condemned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for laying the groundwork for a new war that could postpone Israel’s October 27 election. Barak told Israel’s Channel 12 that "[Netanyahu] is preparing the infrastructure to go to war in a way that would postpone the elections," and Barak added, "We must do everything to remove him from power on October 27, once and for all."
Barak also launched a personal attack on Netanyahu, saying Netanyahu "lies as he breathes, as he eats French fries, and as he leaves a restaurant without paying." Anadolu Ajansı said Barak’s remarks came amid an intensifying domestic debate about the use of security issues in the election campaign, while Anadolu Ajansı also said Netanyahu warned earlier this week that Israel could face attacks ahead of the election.
Flydubai incident enters
Netanyahu threatened retaliation against those found responsible for the September 30 incident involving Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, and Netanyahu said investigators were examining whether the person involved had acted on instructions from another party. Netanyahu said, "whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price," and Anadolu Ajansı said the Flydubai incident had become an election campaign issue amid accusations by his opponents that he was exploiting security issues to bolster his position.
A source close to the UAE government told Israeli news website Ynet that Netanyahu was exploiting the Flydubai incident for political purposes, saying "the elections are managing the event, not logic." Former adviser Daniel Levy said Netanyahu benefits from the Flydubai incident as he pushes other politically damaging issues out of the headlines, according to ABNA English.
War, elections, and debate
Barak’s warnings about war ahead of the vote arrived as Netanyahu faced debate over consultations with senior security officials over developments on several fronts, including the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria.
Anadolu Ajansı said Barak’s comments also came as Israeli military operations continued on several fronts, including the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria, while Anadolu Ajansı also said the election would be Israel’s first general vote since the Oct. 7, 2023 events.
İlke Haber Ajansı said Barak accused Netanyahu of laying the groundwork for a possible war that could postpone Israel’s general election scheduled for Oct. 27, raising concerns that regional security tensions could be used to serve the prime minister’s political interests.
İlke Haber Ajansı also said Netanyahu warned earlier in the week that Israel could face an external attack before the election and that he did not identify any potential attacker, while İlke Haber Ajansı said opposition figures dismissed the warning as a political maneuver.