The Israeli security establishment is working on the assumption that Iran may try to influence the upcoming election in Israel, amid escalating regional tension and growing moves by Tehran's allies in the region, the Hebrew daily Maariv reported.
According to the report, Israeli security agencies do not possess specific intelligence confirming an Iranian plan to disrupt the elections, but base their assessment on estimates that Tehran seeks to raise the level of regional tension and exploit various arenas to pressure Israel.
The report indicated that Iran has issued instructions to Hezbollah to raise its level of readiness for a possible confrontation with Israel. According to Lebanese sources, the party is carrying out a series of measures including new recruitment operations and strengthening its defensive systems in several areas, among them the Bekaa Valley, the Lebanese coast and Beirut's southern suburbs.
Israeli security circles fear, according to the report, possible operations against Israeli forces in Lebanon that could include targeting military sites or patrols or even attempts to kidnap soldiers, in a scenario Tel Aviv believes could extend to the Gaza Strip as well.
The newspaper quoted a military source as saying that Iran "stands behind the cycle of regional tension," adding that Israel is forced to maintain a high level of readiness for long periods, which achieves objectives serving the Iranian strategy.
In the Gaza Strip, the report noted that the Israeli army is closely monitoring attempts by Hamas to rebuild its military capabilities, pointing to observed efforts to develop fast boats belonging to the movement's naval force. It added that the army has targeted some of these capabilities but believes reconstruction attempts are still ongoing.
The report also spoke of a rise in the number of alerts regarding possible attacks in the West Bank in recent weeks, confirming that Israeli army and Shin Bet operations contributed to thwarting a number of plots before they were carried out.
In the same context, the newspaper reported that Israeli forces recently arrested a wanted man in the city of Jenin, on the pretext of his involvement in arms trading and working for an armed group.
On the Lebanese front, Maariv confirmed that the Israeli army continues its high state of alert, referring to statements by Israeli occupation army minister Israel Katz in which he warned Hezbollah against engaging in any confrontation alongside Iran, hinting at a broad military response and the expansion of what he described as the "security zone" in southern Lebanon.
The report concluded that Iran seeks, from the Israeli point of view, to unify the arenas of confrontation and create simultaneous security crises on more than one front, while the Israeli army focuses on strengthening deterrence and avoiding being drawn into an all-out confrontation that could affect internal stability and the conduct of the election process.
