Netanyahu reverses, schedules Lapid briefing after standoff

After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused Opposition Leader Yair Lapid's request for an urgent security briefing, Lapid escalated Tuesday with a new demand: a four-way meeting including Netanyahu, Shin Bet director David Zini, and Central Elections Committee chairman Noam Solberg.

"The moment the prime minister in a democratic state says publicly that there is a threat that could disrupt the elections, all the parties involved need to receive a full briefing on whether there is a problem, and what steps are being taken to ensure the democratic process proceeds in full," Lapid said.

Hours later, the Prime Minister's Office contacted Lapid's office, inviting him to a security briefing scheduled for 11:30 p.m. tonight. Before that, Netanyahu will hold a security assessment meeting.

Lapid had approached the Prime Minister's Office earlier Tuesday requesting an urgent security briefing, following Netanyahu's remarks during a visit to the Tel Nof Air Force Base, in which he warned of the possibility of an enemy attack on Israel ahead of the elections. In his request, Lapid said he "seeks to understand whether the threats are real, and if so, how the prime minister has prepared this time to ensure the elections are held without disruption."

Netanyahu's warning (Photo: Roi Avraham/GPO, Sound: Yechezkel Kandil/GPO)

Shortly after the initial request, the Prime Minister's Office said Netanyahu was refusing to meet with Lapid. "Prime Minister Netanyahu holds routine security briefings with Opposition Leader Lapid, and the most recent one took place between them two weeks ago on September 14," the office claimed. "The prime minister instructed his military secretary to brief the opposition leader today on recent developments."

During his visit to the Tel Nof Air Force Base, Netanyahu warned that "we have indications that ahead of the elections our enemies will try to attack us. So from here, from the Air Force base, from the long arm of the State of Israel, I am sending you a message: don't mess with us, not now and not ever. Our long arm will reach you anywhere and at any time."

Following his remarks, Yisrael Beiteinu party chairman Gadi Eisenkot said that "if Netanyahu's statements regarding security threats are true, this requires an immediate briefing of Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, in order to verify that this is indeed a real threat and not a political move designed to harm the election system."