From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Liberman: Golan should ‘shut up,’ is helping Netanyahu; can’t be defense or justice minister in next government
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Yisrael Beytenu party chief Avigdor Liberman slams The Democrats chairman Yair Golan, arguing that the left-wing leader should remain quiet because when he speaks publicly, it only helps Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s campaign.
Golan should “shut up” because to do so “would be his biggest contribution to our victory,” Hebrew media outlets Ynet and Israel Hayom quote Liberman as telling a parlor meeting last 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 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 dismisses the possibility of Golan leading the defense, national security or justice ministries in a future opposition-led government.
The Times of Israel Community.