Tensions between opposition party leaders flared on Tuesday, when right-wing Yisrael Beytenu party chief Avigdor Liberman and left-wing The Democrats chairman Yair Golan got into a public spat over whether Golan’s rhetoric was hurting the opposition’s chances of defeating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming elections.

The row began with Lieberman saying that Golan should remain quiet because when he speaks publicly, it only helps Netanyahu’s campaign ahead of the elections set for October 27.

Golan should “shut up” because doing so “would be his biggest contribution to our victory,” Hebrew media outlets Ynet and Israel Hayom quoted Liberman as telling a parlor meeting on Monday night.

Liberman — a right-wing secularist former Netanyahu ally-turned-bitter rival — argued that there are plenty of areas of agreement between the parties on issues such as term limits for the role of prime minister and drafting a constitution, but that “bringing up the issue of a Palestinian state or the evacuation of settlements every two days is complete madness” and is “purely working in Netanyahu’s favor.”

Liberman also dismissed the possibility of Golan leading the defense, national security or justice ministries in a future opposition-led government.

In response, Golan called on Liberman to “stop serving Netanyahu’s incitement campaign.”

“Urich says The Democrats are illegitimate because he wants to weaken the change bloc and bring Netanyahu back to power,” and “it’s time to stop echoing his messages,” Golan posted on X, referring to Jonatan Urich, a senior media adviser to Netanyahu, and to the bloc of parties opposed to the premier.

“We can fight now and give Netanyahu another term. Or we can work as a bloc, win, and then argue in the government. We’re choosing victory,” Golan wrote.

Golan has routinely sparked public backlash for controversial statements regarding the Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian issues in the past, most notably in May 2025, when he appeared to accuse Israel of killing babies in Gaza “as a hobby,” triggering condemnations from across the political spectrum.

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© The Times of Israel