Herzog cancels meeting with Yair Golan over ‘violent and insulting’ remarks referencing his dad

President Isaac Herzog has canceled a meeting with Democrats chair Yair Golan after the left-wing lawmaker exhorted Herzog not to protect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by granting his pardon request without an admission of guilt.

Yesterday, in a statement, Golan addressed the president directly, saying, “Are you loyal to the state and the law, or are you ‘keeping Netanyahu united?’”

Golan was referencing an infamous gaffe Herzog made during an impromptu live television debate with Netanyahu when they ran as rivals in the 2015 election. Herzog, meaning to say he would keep Jerusalem united if elected prime minister, accidentally vowed to “keep Netanyahu united,” to snickers from the premier and much media ridicule.

Golan added, “I know that your father, President Chaim Herzog, would have kicked Netanyahu out the door, without hesitation and without blinking.”

Channel 12 reports that the president has canceled the meeting in protest of the “violent and insulting discourse.”

But speaking to the network, Golan does not apologize for his remarks. He says a new meeting has not been scheduled.

“I respect the president, but given the worrying signs on the pardon issue… one must have a clear and staunch position,” he said. “We expect the president to defend the state of Israel’s laws, its institutions, its representatives and the judicial branch.”

He adds, “It’s come time to tell ourselves and everyone, Israel is at a fateful hour. We must fight for the future of Israel as a democratic and free country.”

“My sole intention to the president was to say this is an emergency and we all have the duty — the first citizen and every other citizen — to fight for Israel’s future,” he adds.