The Religious Zionism party issued a statement Monday evening warning that the Democrats primary will produce a future government led by Gadi Eisenkot, including Yair Golan, Naama Lazimi, and Yaya Pink, whom it accuses of planning to shut down settlements, evacuate outposts, and lead refusal. The party said Golan called settlers 'sub-human' and Pink raised funds for Hawara and posted evacuation orders. The statement also cited refuseniks Omri Gonen and Nimrod Shefer as part of the coalition.
The Religious Zionism party escalated its campaign against the Democrats party Monday evening, issuing a statement at 19:24 Jerusalem that for the first time names specific candidates and explicitly accuses them of planning to dismantle settlements. The statement warns that a future government led by Gadi Eisenkot would include Yair Golan, Naama Lazimi, Yaya Pink, and refusenik activists Omri Gonen and Nimrod Shapir. It claims Golan called settlers 'sub-human' and pledged to close the Eli pre-military academy, Lazimi promotes evacuation, and Pink raised funds for Hawara and posted evacuation orders. The thread showed the party's messaging sharpening over the evening: the initial warning at 19:24 Jerusalem was general, then refined to include specific names, and finally added the refusenik activists.
The antecedents for this development trace back to earlier Monday. At 09:23 Jerusalem, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich mocked Eisenkot ahead of the primary, listing candidates he described as radical. Sunday evening, Yair Golan confirmed he would shut down the Eli academy, as The Zioneer reported. The corroboration of the party's claims rests on its own statement, quoted by N12's Dana Liel, and has not been independently verified by other news outlets at this hour.
As The Zioneer reported in recent days, Religious Zionism has been running a sustained campaign against the Democrats and their candidates. The party distributed Shabbat pamphlets attacking Golan and Naftali Bennett, and Channel 14's Mati Tuchfeld warned that the Democrats are 'extremists' who would be ministers under Eisenkot. An informal poll on Channel 14 found 95% of participants believe Golan will close the Eli academy. The context situates Monday's statement as part of a broader effort to discredit the primary process.
The primary results have not yet been announced, and the Democrats party has not responded to the evening's statement. The specific claims about Pink's fundraising and Lazimi's evacuation plans remain unverified beyond the party's own statement.
4 developments
- DevelopingYair Golan promises a coalition with Mansour Abbas, says Ra'am is preferable to Religious Zionism
- StrongSmotrich mocks Eisenkot ahead of Democrats primary, lists radical candidates
- DevelopingReservist protest leader Yaya Pink announces run for Knesset with The Democrats
- DevelopingYair Golan calls on his bloc to embrace Mansour Abbas to block Netanyahu coalition
Source and signal
- Internal intake