Strategist and media adviser Ronen Tzur announced Wednesday evening that he is withdrawing from the primary race for the Democrats party and fully distancing himself from it. In an interview on Channel 12’s Seven program, he said, “I am quitting the Democrats’ primaries. This is a party that is close to Ofer Cassif. The process of ‘Mamdization’ will prevent it even from being part of the next coalition.”
Tzur’s exit came less than a day after Amit Segal reported that thousands of smearing text messages sent to party members against candidate Nimrod Sheffer, including claims that he was “an extreme left-wing man who grovels before those who justify October 7,” had actually been sent by Sheffer’s own personal spokesman. The messages echoed criticism Tzur had previously leveled at Sheffer, creating the false impression that Tzur’s camp was running the attack campaign.
According to the report, Sheffer’s team aimed to frame Tzur, turn party members against him, and generate sympathy for Sheffer. After the exposure, Sheffer apologized, took full responsibility, and said he did not know about the plan devised by his team.
Tzur had announced only two weeks ago that he would run in the primaries. At the time he struck a combative tone, saying, “I know all the tricks and tactics, they are afraid of me, so I will run and ask for your trust.” He also said the party’s Knesset slate should consist only of “fighters with strength, with energy, with rage, with love for the country, with hope in their eyes and a knife between their teeth. And that is me.”
