A public dispute erupted on Tuesday between Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman and Democrats party chairman Yair Golan amid growing tensions within the anti-Netanyahu bloc ahead of the upcoming election campaign.

Speaking in an interview on a podcast on Monday evening, Liberman criticized Golan, saying: “I’d be happy to praise him—if only he’d keep quiet. That would be his greatest contribution to our victory.”

Referring to Golan’s recent statements, Liberman added: “There is already broad agreement on enough issues—the two-term limit for the prime minister, the draft law, and a constitution. But bringing up a Palestinian state or evacuating yishuvim every couple of days is absolute madness. That’s simply doing Netanyahu’s work.”

Liberman added that he would not agree to the formation of a government in which the Democrats party would receive the Defense, National Security, or Justice ministries. “It’s simply unacceptable,” he said.

Liberman also criticized Golan in an interview with the Knesset Channel, saying: “My problem with Yair Golan is that he’s practically working for the Likud’s public diplomacy headquarters. Instead of talking about what unites us, every couple of days he’s evacuating all the yishuvim for me, including Nokdim (where Liberman lives), and establishing a Palestinian state. That plays right into Netanyahu’s hands.”

Golan responded on X: “Avigdor, it’s time to stop serving Netanyahu’s incitement campaign…We can argue now and give Netanyahu another term, or we can work together as one bloc, win the election, and only then argue in government. We choose victory.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)