Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he instructed the Mossad intelligence service and the military to bring about the fall of Iran's government, according to WP Wiadomości. Speaking on the right-wing Channel 14 two days before Tuesday's parliamentary election, he argued that only his government can finally remove the Iranian nuclear threat.
"I ordered Mossad and the army to topple the Iranian regime. That is the only way to put an end to this threat," Netanyahu said, as quoted by WP Wiadomości. He warned that Israel's security depends on the outcome of the vote.
The remark restated a pledge he made in a Wednesday address to Israeli soldiers, in which he described Iran as an "existential threat" to Israel. WP Wiadomości noted that the Washington Post assessed Netanyahu has sharpened his language toward Tehran in recent days as the election approaches.
Why it matters
The statement puts a declared goal of regime change in Iran into an Israeli election campaign, days before voters decide the composition of the 120-seat Knesset. It also ties the prime minister's security argument directly to the ballot: Netanyahu is presenting himself as the only politician able to guarantee Israel's safety, while his opponents blame him for failures before the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 and for the conduct of the war in Gaza.
The claim about Iran's nuclear program is contested. Netanyahu said Israeli and American strikes have already destroyed 90 percent of Iran's nuclear capacity, but WP Wiadomości reported that independent analyses do not confirm this figure. According to the outlet, US intelligence assesses that the bombardments badly damaged Iranian nuclear facilities, yet a Reuters compilation from October indicates Iran probably retained a large share of its uranium enriched to 60 percent.
A campaign fought over security and leadership
Netanyahu also attacked his main election rival, Gadi Eisenkot, accusing him of being prepared to reach an agreement with Iran. He argued that his close relationship with US President Donald Trump would allow Israel to eliminate the Iranian threat for good, WP Wiadomości reported.
The campaign has been dominated by the split between supporters and opponents of the prime minister. Who forms the next government will depend on which parties can assemble a coalition holding at least 61 seats.
Separately, UA.NEWS reported that Channel 12 disclosed a dispute between Netanyahu and the chief of the General Staff, citing the Anadolu Agency.
The election is being held amid deep political divisions in Israel. Netanyahu is fighting to stay in power, and the result will shape both the country's leadership and the direction of its policy toward Iran.
What to watch is Tuesday's vote and the coalition talks that follow, along with any official confirmation of the military and intelligence orders Netanyahu described.
