Golan, Lapid have ‘constructive conversation,’ a week after butting heads over ‘killing babies’ remark

Following a meeting with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid to discuss ongoing coordination between opposition parties, The Democrats party chairman Yair Golan tells reporters that the pair had a “constructive conversation” and hits back at coalition politicians who blasted his recent statement — since walked back — that Israel is killing babies in Gaza “as a hobby.”

Despite critics stating that his comments caused damage to Israel, Golan tells reporters that it is politicians like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and others on the “extreme nationalist right” who are creating problems for the country abroad.

“I also do not intend to remain silent,” he continues, attacking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s so-called “poison machine.”

The “poison machine” is the name some avowed critics of Netanyahu use for what they say is a network of pundits, journalists, influencers and activists dedicated to besmirching the premier’s political rivals.

“Netanyahu and the poison machine have declared war on anyone who stands up to them,” he says. “They are attacking not only the gatekeepers, but those who present a different path to the public. They are attacking me directly. In recent days, I have heard that I have a Nazi grandfather, that I am a traitor, that I have to face a firing squad, and they wish my family and children death. I am not afraid of the poison machine. And I have no intention of surrendering. Because we have something they lost a long time ago: a backbone.”

Lapid, speaking ahead of his Yesh Atid party’s weekly faction meeting, is asked by a reporter how Golan had responded to his criticism of his remarks last week.

Lapid answers that the two did not meet today for a “reconciliation meeting” because Golan had retracted his statement and “he doesn’t agree with his statement either.”

“The fact is that IDF soldiers don’t kill babies as a hobby, and there’s also the other side: the Israeli government needs to say out loud that we’re sorry for every child who died, even if Hamas is to blame for his death. Children shouldn’t die in adults’ wars,” he says.

Queried by a reporter about how he is getting along with Golan, Lapid replies that he works with other opposition leaders “all the time” because it is his job.

Asked about the fact that he met with Yisrael Beytenu party chairman Avigdor Liberman separately from Golan, Lapid replies that sometimes he meets with opposition party leaders together and sometimes separately, and he does not attribute any significance to the fact that Golan and Liberman did not sit together.

Yesterday, Liberman told Radio 103FM that Golan was “building a coalition with Ayman Odeh, with the guys from the Islamic List and other things. It’s hard to call it a Zionist coalition.”

Speaking with party activists last week, Golan said that he would sit in a coalition with Ra’am chief Mansour Abbas and Hadash-Ta’al chairman Ayman Odeh.