Likud's response to Erdan's attack - and Naama Lazimi's jab: 'It won't pass'

Gilad Erdan announced a new party with Yuli Edelstein, drawing criticism from both right and left. A Likud source said that had he received a reserved slot or a chance in the primaries, his values would have aligned. MK Naama Lazimi quipped: 'I don't see myself sitting with someone who didn't pass the electoral threshold.' Democrats candidate Moshe Radman attacked both for their role in the 'government of destruction.'

Former minister Gilad Erdan announced this evening (Thursday) the formation of a new party together with Yuli Edelstein, already sparking backlash from both sides of the political map. In Likud, his former party, they responded to his remarks that 'he cannot call Likud home, because Likud's elected officials no longer represent his voters.' A Likud source replied: 'I promise you that if Erdan had received a reserved slot from the prime minister or found in polls that he had a chance in the primaries, our values would have suited him just fine.' Erdan ruled out sitting in a government with Yair Golan and the Democrats, claiming their leader disrespects IDF soldiers and commits to anti-democratic and anti-Jewish things. MK Naama Lazimi responded with a jab: 'And I don't see myself sitting with someone who didn't pass the electoral threshold.' Democrats candidate Moshe Radman attacked sharply: 'Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein, who sat quietly in Likud while the government of destruction abandoned 46 hostages to their deaths, while they spread a failed war after a historic massacre and brought upon us more than 2,200 murdered and fallen, while they dismantled Israeli society for 3.5 years and caused unprecedented international isolation.' He added that they 'will preach to us about concern for IDF soldiers and responsibility?' and called Erdan 'take the beam from your eye.'