Brief
Netanyahu warns Iran against election interference, vows disproportionate response
In a video address, Netanyahu said Israeli intelligence sees signs of Iranian plans to disrupt the upcoming election and pledged a strong military response.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video warning on Sunday, October 26, 2026, that Iran and its regional allies must not attempt to interfere with Israel’s parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. He said Israeli intelligence has detected indications of possible Iranian attacks aimed at disrupting the vote and warned that any such move would be met with "disproportionate blows" and both defensive and offensive military action.
What happened
Netanyahu recorded the message in a video posted to his official channels, stating that "we have intelligence signs that our enemies, Iran and its proxies, could challenge us with attacks to disrupt the elections." He added that the Israeli military is prepared to respond to any threat. The warning coincided with the final week before the election, which will fill all 120 seats in the Knesset.
What the reports add
The news18 article notes that the warning follows Netanyahu’s recent campaign focus on national security, including a February‑launched war on Iran with U.S. backing. Earlier in the week, he posted an AI‑generated image of a mushroom cloud over Tel Aviv, accompanied by commentary from a right‑wing analyst describing Iran as an existential threat. A day before the video, Netanyahu said he had ordered Israeli security forces to work toward toppling Iran’s clerical government and shared a video of himself speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump from in front of a fighter jet, where both leaders said they would "finish the job" together.
What was said
Netanyahu told the audience, "Don't test us. You will suffer disproportionate blows," and emphasized that the Israeli military is ready for both defensive and offensive operations. The article also references Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s rejection of any change in Tehran’s stance, though his comments are only briefly mentioned.
How it came about
Netanyahu’s warning builds on a series of security‑focused moves in his campaign. Earlier reports from Felo News highlighted his reliance on security credentials ahead of the Oct. 27 election, including a poll suggesting his bloc could lose its majority (see poll analysis) and his alignment with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who endorsed him in mid‑October. The current threat narrative echoes previous campaign themes that frame the Oct. 7 Hamas attack as a central political issue.
Key facts
- Netanyahu warned Iran not to interfere with Israel's Oct. 27 parliamentary elections. (news18.com)
- He said Israeli intelligence has signs of possible Iranian attacks to disrupt the vote. (news18.com)
- Netanyahu threatened "disproportionate blows" and said the military is ready for defensive and offensive action. (news18.com)
- Earlier in the week he posted an AI‑generated image of a mushroom cloud over Tel Aviv and directed forces to work toward toppling Iran's clerical government. (news18.com)
- He spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump from in front of a fighter jet, pledging to "finish the job" together. (news18.com)
Sources
- [1] news18.com — originally reported as “Netanyahu Warns Iran Against Election Interference, Threatens ‘Disproportionate Blows’”
