Efrat Rayten Criticizes Miri Regev Over Ben Gurion Chaos and Supports Yair Golan

Knesset member Efrat Rayten sharply criticized Transportation Minister Miri Regev for the chaotic situation at Ben Gurion Airport, describing the government’s response as marked by arrogance, detachment, and stupidity. Rayten recounted her own experience traveling to the western Negev, contrasting the severe traffic jams with Regev’s absence, as the minister was in Morocco during the crisis. She condemned the government’s indifference to citizens’ hardships.

Rayten also defended former Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan following his controversial remarks about Israel’s recent airstrike in Syria, which he suggested was politically motivated. Rayten linked Golan’s comments to widespread public distrust in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom she accused of failing the country. She warned that Israel’s exclusion from emerging regional alliances involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and Pakistan poses a serious strategic challenge, especially with elections approaching. Rayten echoed American concerns that Netanyahu’s decisions may be driven by electoral considerations, calling Golan’s candidness "very accurate."

Addressing the controversy surrounding Einav Tsengauer, who claimed Golan promised her a high spot on the Democratic Party list but did not fulfill it, Rayten expressed personal support for Tsengauer. She described Tsengauer as a strong and admirable figure and said she is actively working to integrate her into the party’s activities. Rayten emphasized that Tsengauer’s involvement is crucial both before and after the upcoming elections, highlighting her potential to drive significant change in Israel.

Rayten criticized the Democratic Party’s current gender representation, noting that only two women are among the top twenty candidates and half of those women are currently abroad. She called this situation "pathetic and sad," reflecting poorly on the party’s true character. Overall, Rayten’s remarks reveal internal tensions within the opposition and underscore concerns about the political climate ahead of the elections.