Israeli Media: Netanyahu Planned Action Against Iran Before the Election; Plan Halted After U.S. Learned of It
Jerusalem — Israel's Channel 12 reported on the evening of November 6 that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, backed by Mossad director Roman Gofman, had sought to carry out an operation inside Iran in the days before Israel's October 27 election, and that the plan was halted after an Israeli security operative's error alerted the United States, prompting Washington to intervene quickly.
According to the report, senior Israeli security officials opposed the plan, fearing it could trigger a major escalation with Iran and even force the election to be postponed; among senior security chiefs, Gofman was the only one who supported Netanyahu's proposal. The Times of Israel, summarising the broadcast, stressed that the report was unsourced and unconfirmed.
Netanyahu's office denied the account, saying: "The prime minister himself clarified in real time that an attack before the Israeli elections was not on the agenda."
It was not the first reported clash of this kind. On October 25, Channel 12 reported an "unprecedented confrontation" between Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir over military action linked to Iran. On October 27, Axios reported that Netanyahu had tried to order preparations for possible hostile action against Iran 72 hours before the vote, that Zamir refused, warning of escalation that could cancel the elections, and that Netanyahu then backed down.
On November 1, Channel 12 further reported that Netanyahu had urged President Donald Trump, in a phone call, to resume strikes on Iran immediately after the U.S. midterm elections, while the White House preferred to give diplomacy a chance first. (Source: Channel 12)
Related:
Israeli UN Ambassador Danon Denies Netanyahu Pressured Trump to Resume Strikes on Iran
Source: Channel 12 (Israel
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Photo: 图：内塔尼亚胡（左）与特朗普在白宫会面（资料图，本站档案图）。 / Photo: Benjamin Netanyahu (left) meeting Donald Trump at the White House (file photo, GSM archive).