Democrats MK Efrat Rayten sharply criticized Transportation Minister Miri Regev on Thursday over the chaos at Ben-Gurion Airport amid a workers' protest, while also defending party chairman Yair Golan over his comments on Israel's strike in Syria and revealing efforts to bring former hostage advocate Einav Zangauker into the party.
"It's amazing," Rayten began in an interview with 103FM hosts Roni Bar-On and Maya Ziv-Wolf. "Today I traveled to the western Negev for a tour and a meeting with local authority heads. It was so extreme. My journey through traffic jams to the western Negev, and the transportation minister is now in Morocco, with chaos at Ben-Gurion Airport. I couldn't have felt anything more extreme than what I felt today. Arrogance, detachment and stupidity. Indifference toward citizens."
Rayten then turned to diplomatic and security issues after Golan drew criticism for claiming that the Israeli strike in Syria was motivated by political considerations.
She said his remarks should be viewed in the context of the lack of trust in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"It is not right to look at this incident separately from the distrust that most citizens of the State of Israel and I feel toward Netanyahu. He failed miserably," she said.
Regional alliances forming without Israel
Rayten argued that while Israel is operating in Syria, new regional alliances are being formed without Israeli participation.
"Today we are in a situation where alliances are being formed around us, and we are not part of them. There is the alliance of Ankara, Washington and Damascus. The United States supports shaping Syria under the leadership of al-Sharaa and maintains close relations with Turkey, and strongly condemns, as it did yesterday, the Israeli strikes," she added.
She said the regional picture should also raise concern given the approaching election.
"This is not normal. There is another alliance that we are also not part of: Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and Pakistan. Israel is not part of these alliances, and that is the real strategic situation of the State of Israel. Allow me to question Netanyahu's motives, especially two months before an election. You also hear from the United States that they are talking about how the motives now are political and connected to the election. And this is catastrophic. Yair Golan says things very plainly. He tells the truth."
Rayten was also asked about the controversy surrounding Zangauker, after she claimed Golan had promised her a reserved high-ranking spot on the Democrats' electoral list, a promise she said was not fulfilled.
"I'm sorry. I love Einav very much. I had a very long personal conversation with her three or four days after the announcement came out that she would not be given a reserved spot. She is an amazing, strong, and wonderful woman. The entire State of Israel owes her, and she is a symbol," Rayten said.
Despite the dispute, Rayten said she wants Zangauker to become involved in the party.
"I respect Yair's decision, and the conversation with her was conducted in the most positive way. I am really working, and so is he, to hold additional meetings with her. She is important to us, and I very much hope a way will be found for her to be part of the party, with a role before the election and also after the election. She can lead extraordinary changes in the State of Israel from where she is."
Rayten says she wants Zangauker 'now'
Asked whether the Democrats could become part of the next coalition and whether Zangauker might receive a role after the election, Rayten stressed that she saw no reason to wait.
"I want her now. I wouldn't wait until October 28. She can contribute and do wonderful things. And she wants to contribute to the State of Israel. She has a huge heart, she is smart, and we need to bring her on board."
Toward the end of the interview, Rayten also attacked Likud over the results of its primaries and the low representation of women near the top of the party list. She noted that only two women, including Regev, appeared among the top 20 candidates.
"Fifty percent of the women in the top 20 are not in the country at this moment. There are only two women. It's pathetic, sad, and above all shows the true face of the liberal party. Come on. What a joke."