AI-generated illustration

The Israeli military said it decided not to broadcast live the graduation ceremony at the Bahad 1 officers' school in the country's south, citing legal advice from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and approaching elections as reasons. Israeli media reported the move was aimed at preventing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from using his address as campaign material.

Netanyahu used the speech to renew a threat to topple the Iranian leadership, while Defense Minister Yisrael Katz claimed Iran and regional proxy forces were trying to influence the outcome of the October 27 parliamentary elections.

Army cites attorney general's advice

The military said in a statement that the decision to forgo a live broadcast of the ceremony at the Bahad 1 officers' school was taken on the basis of legal guidance from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

"Following the instructions of the Deputy Attorney General and given the proximity of the election date, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit will not broadcast live the speeches at the ground forces officers' course graduation ceremony," the statement read.

Israeli media reported that the decision was intended to stop Netanyahu, who has fallen behind in opinion polls, from turning the graduation address into election material. The army had sought Baharav-Miara's legal opinion on the matter the day before, and the attorney general advised that speeches by politicians should not be carried live.

Tight race ahead of October 27 vote

Parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 27 in Israel. Opinion surveys show the race between opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar Party and Netanyahu's Likud Party running neck and neck.

Netanyahu repeats threat against Iranian leadership

Speaking at the military graduation ceremony less than a week before the vote, Netanyahu repeated his threat to "topple" the Iranian leadership, saying "the Tehran regime still has not learned its lesson."

Netanyahu accused Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei of pursuing nuclear weapons "following in his father's footsteps" and said: "There is only one way to eliminate this threat forever: to topple the regime in Iran. That is the instruction I have given the Israeli army, the Mossad and all our security services."

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, addressing the same ceremony, alleged that Iran and its proxy forces in the region were carrying out attacks in an effort to influence the results of the October 27 elections. "We detect your efforts, and we are ready to thwart them and strike you with all our might. If Iran attacks Israel, Iran will burn!" Katz said.

Key takeaways

• The Israeli army will not broadcast the officers' school graduation speeches live, citing legal advice and the approaching elections.
• Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara advised that speeches by politicians should not be aired live.
• Netanyahu renewed a threat to topple the Iranian regime in his ceremony address.
• Polls show a tight race between Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar Party and Netanyahu's Likud ahead of the October 27 vote.