Yashar! Escalates Feud With Likud, Claiming Direct Overtures From Ministers
Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar! party escalated its feud with Likud, claiming Minister Orit Strock and other ruling party figures contacted them amid denial from Likud.
The Yashar! party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, ratcheted up its war of words with Likud on Saturday night, claiming that Minister Orit Strock also reached out to its members. In a pointed statement, the party remarked: "By the way, since Yashar!'s last press release, Orit Strock has called as well. Reminding everyone to drink cold water even on an autumn evening. Have a good week."
The exchange follows a heated public spat after Yashar! asserted that Likud ministers and prospective MKs had approached its members to explore potential political cooperation. Likud flatly denied the claims, prompting Yashar! to issue a scathing follow-up statement targeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his party.
"The one who sent Shlomi Fogel for negotiations with Hamas and denied it, the one who sent Miki Zohar for talks with Mansour Abbas and denied it, the one who insists on employing a Qatari agent in his office and denies it, the one who lost on October 27 and denies it, sends emissaries to Yashar! and denies it. You know exactly how this works," the party declared in its statement.
Earlier, Yashar! claimed that panic had gripped Likud ranks, resulting in a flurry of phone calls to Yashar! members from current ministers and prospective lawmakers, including Almog Cohen, Yoav Kisch, and Yaakov Bardugo. The party added: "The entire public sees your panic over the looming defeat. We remain committed to fulfilling the public's decision and forming a Zionist government that will work for all Israelis."
In response, Yaakov Bardugo and Minister Almog Cohen strongly denied the allegations. Cohen fired back on social media: "Menalis, your fear can be smelled all the way to Ofakim. Are you already making sure your party members remain loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood? Maybe you should have them sign a loyalty oath to the Supreme Leader? To set the record straight, I did not speak with anyone from the crooked party." Yoav Kisch did not immediately comment on the matter.
