Lapid: No need for public panic, despite Netanyahu's claims of possible pre-election attack

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said that there was no need for the public to panic following his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday night, after Netanyahu had warned of the possibility of Israel's enemies attacking before the upcoming elections.

"Security threats must be handled professionally and responsibly," Lapid said. "Israel’s security and IDF bases are not mere backdrops for election campaign videos."

He also said that if Netanyahu were truly concerned about Israel's national security, he would draft 15,000 haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft dodgers.

"The Chief of Staff has raised ten red flags regarding the shortage of combat troops and the erosion of readiness within the IDF," Lapid said.

He also said that, in any event, the elections would take place at the proper time, and that there was not excuse to delay or move them.

Lapid added that he had demanded a four-way meeting between himself, Netanyahu, the head of the Shin Bet (Israeli Security Agency), and Chairman of the Central Elections Committee Justice Noam Sohlberg, in order to coordinate ahead of the election.