Ehud Olmert Warns Benjamin Netanyahu And Allies Could Steal Israel’s Next Elections

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert warned on Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies could try to “steal” the next elections, saying “The prime minister and the gang of thugs governing the country with him will try to steal the elections.”

“Ex-Israeli premier warns Netanyahu could try to ‘steal’ next elections ‘The prime minister and the gang of thugs governing the country with him will try to steal the elections,’ says Ehud Olmert Abdel Raouf Arnaout 04 June 2026•Update: 04 June 2026 İsrail, İsrail Former Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert warned Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies could attempt to manipulate the next general elections, accusing them of using intimidation and coercion in the Knesset vote that elected a new state comptroller”

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Olmert’s warning came a day after the Knesset elected Michael Rabello, the Netanyahu family’s lawyer, as Israel’s new state comptroller, with Rabello backed by the governing coalition and narrowly defeating opposition-backed retired Supreme Court Justice Yosef Elron.

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Olmert told Israel’s 103FM radio that “What happened yesterday is a preview of what will happen in the next Knesset elections,” describing the Knesset vote as a rehearsal for what he said could occur at polling stations.

He said the current Knesset’s term expires in October, while legislation to dissolve parliament and potentially bring forward elections has been proposed, and he argued that Netanyahu’s camp could use intimidation and coercion in the vote.

Turning to Lebanon, Olmert said there is a framework that could eventually lead to peace negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, while also arguing that “Our ground operations in southern Lebanon continue without practical value.”

Olmert’s election warning was paired with a Lebanon-focused argument that a ceasefire framework could open a path to negotiations, after a joint Lebanese-US-Israeli statement announced that Beirut and Tel Aviv agreed during talks in Washington to implement a ceasefire based on a complete halt to Hezbollah fire and the withdrawal of all Hezbollah members from the area south of the Litani River.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the US would determine the timing and mechanism for implementing the ceasefire, which could begin within 24 hours of receiving approval, while Olmert said “Our problem is that we (Israelis) have a government that wants war in Lebanon.”

An-Nahar

He accused the Israeli government of being under pressure from a group of “lunatics” who believe that southern Lebanon, eastern Syria, Gaza, and perhaps Yemen in the future are lands given by God.

He argued that any agreement with Lebanon should involve coordinated cooperation between Israel and the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah, while Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem described direct negotiations with Israel as “absurd, humiliating and disgraceful,” saying any outcome would be “completely unacceptable” to broad segments of Lebanese society.

Olmert also said that if US President Donald Trump reaches an agreement with Iran to end the war between Washington and Tehran, it could create a framework for cooperation on the Hezbollah weapons issue, even as he said Israel’s ground presence had brought “no strategic benefit.”

In Europe, Martin, speaking in the context of statements by “the two ministers,” called for the European Union to adopt additional measures against them and said their conduct “also justifies sanctions at the EU level,” adding that the issue would be raised and that securing support within the European Union was another question.

“Stressing that the acts and statements of the two ministers show a willingness to see Palestinians eliminated from Palestine, Martin called for the European Union to adopt additional measures against them”

Perspectives Med

A spokesperson for O’Callaghan said entry bans targeting the two Israeli ministers were put in place following an agreement reached by the government earlier this week, as the political pressure around Israel’s actions and statements expanded beyond domestic debate.

Yoav Limor, military analyst for Israel Hayom, criticized Benjamin Netanyahu’s performance and said American President Donald Trump had “practically laid bare the reality in which Netanyahu has plunged Israel,” describing Israel as increasingly isolated and dependent on the support of a single person with changing positions.

Limor also argued that Netanyahu’s policy undermined American popular support for Israel and widened the gap with broad swaths of American Jews, particularly reformist and conservative currents, and he mocked Netanyahu’s statements about breaking the “barrier of fear” after the Golani brigade’s arrival on the heights of Beaufort fortress.

Within the same broader political frame, Olmert reiterated that “They are trying to rig the elections and steal them,” warning that the prime minister and his aides would try to influence results through coercion and threats in violation of the law.