Democratic Party Turmoil After Candidate Radman Blames Settlers for Violence

Tensions have erupted within Israel's Democratic Party following controversial remarks by candidate Moshe Radman, who blamed settlers for escalating violence that led to a deadly attack in the West Bank. Radman sent condolences not only to the victims' families but also to the family of the attacker, sparking sharp criticism from fellow party members.

During a party meeting, Omri Ronen, ranked seventh on the party list, reprimanded Radman for his conduct, emphasizing the need for campaign discipline and reminding him that the primaries were over. Naama Lazimi, the party's second-ranked candidate, warned that such statements could cause the party's support to drop to single digits. Party chairman Yair Golan admitted that Radman's comments were a mistake.

The internal discord highlights a lack of unified messaging within the Democratic Party, which risks alienating right-leaning voters in the opposition bloc. This discord has also drawn reactions from other political figures, including Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, who criticized Golan and his colleagues and warned against them holding key security and justice portfolios.

The controversy comes 89 days before the upcoming elections, raising concerns about the Democratic Party's electoral prospects and its ability to maintain cohesion amid sensitive security issues.