IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir announced a leave restriction for all units on Monday, effective Thursday, that could last up to six days, until the October 27 elections.
In addition to the leave restriction, the IDF will also bolster its numbers across a wide range of units and brigades, particularly in the West Bank, Zamir said.
Zamir emphasized that the IDF's mission was to ensure democratic elections took place safely and on schedule.
IDF Elections Officer Col. Vered Ben Yehuda also issued a statement on Monday, assuring the military's commitment to letting every soldier vote in the upcoming elections.
"We must all act to ensure that every service member can exercise their right to vote, while upholding the non-partisan, state-oriented character of the IDF and strictly maintaining the integrity of the election process," she wrote. "It is our responsibility and duty, as IDF commanders, to facilitate the democratic electoral process."
B'Yachad party chairman Naftali Bennett condemned the leave restrictions, saying that they placed an undue burden on already-overworked IDF soldiers.
"We must not allow career service members who want to keep serving to be forced to leave because their families can no longer bear the burden," he said.
Netanyahu: Hamas will try to influence election with terror attacks, Israel is prepared
Earlier in October, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas against attempting attacks ahead of Israel’s October 27 Knesset election, saying Israel would thwart such efforts and respond with “tremendous force” if the terrorist organization tried to influence the vote.
“Precisely because Hamas is so weak, it will try to challenge us with the remnants of its forces ahead of the elections in an attempt to influence them,” Netanyahu said at the opening of the cabinet meeting.
“We are prepared for this. First and foremost, we will thwart such attempts, and in any event, we will respond with tremendous force if they make that mistake,” he added.
His warning came a day after IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir reportedly told the security cabinet that Israel was entering a particularly sensitive period because of both the elections and the October 7 anniversary. Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) Director David Zini also warned ministers that Hamas could seek to kidnap soldiers near election time.