Yair Golan Warns Netanyahu May Create Security Crisis to Avoid Election Defeat

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, sharply criticized Shin Bet chief David Zini, claiming he is unfit for his role and warning of potential threats to the integrity of Israel's upcoming Knesset elections. In an interview with the Arab-Israeli channel Hala TV, Golan accused Zini of failing to investigate the "Qatar-gate" scandal, neglecting to act against what he termed "Jewish terrorism" in the West Bank, and not providing security to opposition leaders, which he said undermines Israeli democracy.

Golan expressed concern over possible attempts to disrupt the election process, including efforts to intimidate various sectors, interfere on election day, and refuse to recognize the results. He suggested that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might engineer an artificial security crisis to prevent losing the elections, accusing Netanyahu of subordinating Israel's security interests to his personal and political agenda.

Addressing the broader regional context, Golan described the Middle East conflict as a struggle between extremist forces and moderates. He argued that under the current government, Israel has shifted from the moderate camp to the extreme one. Golan pledged that if his party joins the next government, it will restore Israel to the moderate axis in the region.