In leaked remarks, Lapid calls Democrats party ‘radical leftists,’ insults Na’ama Lazimi

In leaked remarks from a meeting with senior Yesh Atid officials, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid accuses the center-left The Democrats party, headed by Yair Golan, of being “radical leftists” who go about protesting the government in the wrong way.

Both Yesh Atid and The Democrats are members of the opposition, although Golan is not a sitting MK, as he took over the party leadership mid-term.

According to the leaked remarks, Lapid tells his fellow Yesh Atid members that Golan, a former IDF deputy chief of staff, is doing well in the polls now because he is presenting himself as a moderate army “general.”

“But as soon as the primaries are over, everyone will discover what a radical leftist party he has,” asserts Lapid.

Lapid says that Yesh Atid maintains a regular presence at anti-government protests, “because we believe that the government is endangering the State of Israel,” but that unlike The Democrats, “we don’t think that jumping on water cannons like Na’ama Lazimi is what will save the State of Israel.”

Lazimi, a Democrats MK, is a frequent and vocal presence at protests. In an incident earlier this year, police were filmed manhandling her as they grabbed and pushed her across a road.

Golan responds to Lapid’s remarks on X, writing: “The era of the old politics is over. The future of Israel hangs in the balance.”

“I call on all my allies to rise to the occasion. Let us work together to overthrow Netanyahu’s rule and save Israel,” he adds.