Assassination attempt at a polling station and missile fire: Shin Bet simulated scenarios to disrupt election day
A massive exercise held in Jerusalem simulated extreme scenarios ahead of the 26th Knesset elections scheduled for October 27. As part of the classified preparations, scenarios including cyberattacks, foreign influence, and the possibility of postponing the election date due to a security incident were examined.
Maximum readiness for the 26th Knesset election day: The Shin Bet held a massive, first-of-its-kind, and classified exercise today throughout Jerusalem, designed to test the state's readiness for extreme scenarios that could threaten the election day scheduled for October 27.
As part of the exercise, held in cooperation with the Central Elections Committee and with the participation of all security and emergency agencies, a series of exceptional scenarios were simulated, including the possibility of postponing the election day following a security incident, and the movement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu between polling stations in Jerusalem, in schools and at the Binyanei HaUma.
Additional scenarios simulated included assassination attempts, missile fire, drone attacks, infiltration attempts into sensitive sites, cyberattacks, and the distribution of phishing messages aimed at foreign influence on the election process.
The goal of the exercise was to test the cooperation between the Shin Bet, the Central Elections Committee, and other security and emergency agencies, the ability to make decisions in real-time, and the continued functioning of the election system even under a combined attack.
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This is the first exercise of its kind held by the Shin Bet ahead of an election day, against the backdrop of preparations for security threats, digital threats, and attempts at foreign influence on the democratic process.
