Israel denies pre-election Iran attack plans amid West Bank lockdown

Days before Israel's upcoming general election, Defense Minister Israel Katz denied media reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought military action against Iran prior to the vote. The statement followed reports by Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 alleging a severe dispute between Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir over proposed strike plans. Katz stated that Israel "at no point intended to initiate an attack on Iran" before citizens go to the polls.

Concurrently, Netanyahu announced plans to enforce a full lockdown of the West Bank following a shooting attack in Hebron that left several people injured. The heightened security measures and reported military leadership friction come as Netanyahu faces a tight re-election contest, placing security issues at the center of his campaign.

Sources: DW, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.