Opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan of the "Yesh Atid" and "The Democrats" parties, respectively, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for spreading "fear" and "panic" among Israeli citizens ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for Tuesday, October 27.
This stance came after Netanyahu published an AI-generated image of a nuclear explosion in Tel Aviv, accompanied by a text warning of the danger of Iran possessing nuclear weapons and calling to complete the confrontation with it during the remaining term of US President Donald Trump.
Accusations of Hysteria and Lies
Eisenkot, former Chief of Staff and leader of the "Yesh Atid" party, addressed Netanyahu in a post on the "X" platform: "You are in a state of hysteria, and as is the case in every election campaign, you return to using the same methods: lies and spreading fear." He added, "This time you are threatening Israeli citizens with mass destruction, after failing to achieve the war's objectives in Iran."
Eisenkot noted that Netanyahu had shifted from promises of absolute victory to the slogan "we will not surrender," considering this the whole story. He concluded, "You have failed, and in two days the Israeli people will show you that at the ballot boxes. We will form the next government and lead Israel toward security and prosperity."
Calls to Remove Netanyahu from Social Media
For his part, leader of the "The Democrats" party Yair Golan wrote on "X": "The Prime Minister of Israel posted an image of an atomic bomb over Tel Aviv." He added, "I call for removing Netanyahu from social media. The man and those around him have lost their minds, and the pressure is mounting."
Golan concluded his post by saying, "On Tuesday, we will replace those who spread panic and restore security and rationality to Israel." Netanyahu had published the AI-generated image, attaching excerpts from a text by Israeli writer Yuval Blumberg, author of the book "The Oslo Trap."
Warnings of Existential Danger
Netanyahu wrote: "Read the important words of Yuval Blumberg," before quoting him warning that Israel faces a "real and tangible existential threat." The quoted text stated: "If the Iranians manage to possess nuclear weapons, nothing else will matter, all other matters are largely trivial compared to the existential threat posed by Iran and the Shia axis."
The text also called for exploiting the two years remaining in Trump's term to complete the confrontation with Iran, warning of a possible change in US policy after his term ends. In response, Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and denies seeking to possess nuclear weapons.
Context of the Elections and Current Government
These developments come two days before the Knesset elections, amid competition between Netanyahu's camp and opposition parties seeking to end his rule. Recently, Netanyahu has focused his election campaign on security threats, particularly the Iranian nuclear file, while critics have condemned his use of these fears in political competition.
Eisenkot said on Wednesday, October 21, that Netanyahu's claim of destroying Iranian nuclear bombs and saving Israel was "pure lies," affirming that "Iran never possessed nuclear bombs." He added that he sees no direct and immediate threat requiring a military attack on Iran before the elections. Since late 2022, Netanyahu has led a far-right government, described as the most extreme in Israel's history.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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