Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday he saw “a real danger” he might lose next week’s closely contested election and asserted that there was a worldwide effort to ensure such an outcome.
In what Israeli media called an unannounced visit to a rally north of Tel Aviv, Netanyahu entreated supporters to make sure he defeats rival Isaac Herzog of the left-of-center Zionist Union party by casting ballots in the March 17 vote.
“It’s far from being certain, there’s a real danger,” said the right-wing premier, who has been in office since 2009.
In footage of the event obtained by Reuters Television, Netanyahu said Herzog would seek to renew peace talks with Palestinians and negotiate about “dividing Jerusalem, giving back territory.” He was alluding to his rival’s promises to seek to revive negotiations that collapsed in April.
Israeli Army Radio earlier aired what it said were comments Netanyahu made on Monday to party activists in which he said “it is a very tight race.