Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated Wednesday that he is against a US or Israeli attack on Iran in the coming days, ahead of the Israeli election on 27 October.
“In my opinion, that is not convenient for us,” he told Army Radio.
Netanyahu has recently warned that Iran could try to disrupt the national vote by attacking Israel directly or through the terror groups Hamas in the Gaza Strip, or Hezbollah in Lebanon. “It is true that Israel’s enemies want to attack us in these days and there are indications of that,” he said. “I very much hope they don’t.”
Before previous attacks on Iran, Israel and the US have sought to downplay the likelihood of an attack in order to catch the Islamic Republic off guard.
Netanyahu also told Army Radio that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party will not become defense minister in the next government — a position Ben Gvir has voiced interest in — assuming the Netanyahu-led bloc of parties wins.
“I know he wants it, but he doesn’t decide,” said Netanyahu. “Defense will remain in Likud.”
The premier’s comments on Iran come a day after Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu had urged US President Donald Trump to renew the fighting against Iran before the 27 October election and the US midterm elections a week later, and as the American leader said he would make a decision on Iran “very soon.” Trump has reportedly shifted back and forth on the issue every few days.
The Prime Minister’s Office denied that Netanyahu was seeking to restart the war with Iran before the election, a move that critics allege would be politically motivated.
