“You have no ideology other than hating Bibi”
We brought together a Likud Central Committee member and the 15th spot on the “Democrats” list for a debate on the important issues ahead of the 2026 elections. Who is to blame for October 7th? Is blocking roads legitimate? And what are the chances for cooperation between the two parties?
Ahead of the upcoming elections, we brought together political pairs from both sides of the map in the studio for debates on the important questions on the agenda — from the consequences of the war, through questions about legal and economic reforms, to the failures of each side.
In this episode, attorney Haya Malul-Gaz, a criminal defense lawyer and member of the Likud Central Committee, met with Tomer Avital, a journalist and author, founder of the “Shakuf” (Transparent) lobby, and the 15th spot in the Democrats party list.
Committee or Investigation
The first question we put on the table is the responsibility for October 7th. “The one who is to blame for October 7th is of course the one who ruled here for decades, the one who ignored the fact that the people of Israel went out for long months to the streets and asked him to stop a destructive reform, and despite this continued, divided and tore the people apart, ignored the warnings of all the senior military officials, and essentially abandoned us,” says Avital.
“I don’t know who is to blame,” answers Malul-Gaz. “I deal with evidence. There is responsibility and there is guilt. Responsibility for me is everyone who was involved in a position in the state. Everyone is responsible. In terms of guilt, I want there to be a criminal investigation. I don’t want a committee. Whoever is guilty, and even was negligent, for me can go to prison.”
Avital notes that Likud has been in power for years, and “every time there is a success to say ‘it’s us’ and every time there is a failure to say ‘it’s all the others’ is a delusion.” Malul-Gaz’s answer: “You don’t rule the people. You will never rule the people in your life — because you have no ideology other than hating Bibi.”
There are Likudniks and there are Bibists
An interesting moment in the discussion comes when Avital presses on the point that Netanyahu’s right-wing policy has failed, and Malul-Gaz notes that “this is not real right-wing.” She continues: “There is such a thing called Bibists and there is such a thing called Likudniks. Bibists, if Netanyahu goes to another party — they go with him; Likudniks, if Netanyahu goes to another party — they stay in Likud.”
The price of not blocking a road
Regarding the legitimacy of blocking roads as a protest tool, Avital argues: “Protest is a tool of citizens who are not in power. If blocking roads is the last resort of the citizens, which is a non-violent resort, then yes, it is a logical and legitimate tool.” Malul-Gaz is very annoyed by the call for refusal to serve that was common among the protesters in 2023: “It doesn’t suit you, you don’t serve in the army? My daughter is in the army today.”
Whoever deals with it is the racist
When asked about the stereotype that Ashkenazim are leftists and Mizrahim are rightists, Malul-Gaz opens with: “We are a racist society.” She claims that the Democrats party likes to use a “token Mizrahi” and then throw him away. Avital retorts: “Whoever uses whom, in my opinion, is your Ashkenazi Prime Minister. Whoever deals with this all the time is the racist.”
Reaching out to everyone — except Netanyahu
In conclusion, we asked them to say where each of their sides failed. Avital marks the central point as the failure to topple the government after October 7th. Malul-Gaz says they didn’t succeed because the people don’t want this side in power. Tomer concludes that “if you enter Likud, it will be a breath of fresh air.” Haya answers, laughing, that “when you recommend me it’s a problem,” but adds seriously: “If we sit together — I am in on this, on the tycoons, one hundred percent.”
Director: Omer Bashari
Asst. Director: Adam Robson
Video Editor: Maayan Kapach
Post Production: Guy Hatzor
