Activist Einav Zangauker, the mother of former hostage Matan Zangauker, said on Monday that Democrats Party leader Yair Golan had promised her a spot near the top of the party’s Knesset slate but later backed out of the agreement.
The left-wing Democrats Party finalized its Knesset slate last month after more than 97,000 of its registered members voted in internal primaries to determine which candidates would be on the party’s list ahead of the upcoming elections.
Zangauker stated that in February she had met with Golan and was guaranteed by him a spot near the top of the list, immediately after the incumbent Knesset members.
'The commitment was reaffirmed directly by Yair himself'
“From that moment on, I was asked to keep it secret. Golan’s associates maintained contact with me throughout, and on several occasions during this period, the commitment was reaffirmed directly by Yair himself,” she wrote in an X/Twitter post.
”Each time, I was told that a word is a word, that our agreement remained in effect, and that after the list of candidates in the primaries had been chosen, my guaranteed placement at the top of the list would be announced.”
She also noted that as part of the agreement, she was asked to keep a low media profile during the period leading up to the announcement.
“Of course, I honored my commitment and kept our agreement confidential. I kept a low profile and did not explore other options, such as running in the primaries, nor did I pursue other opportunities. I held up my end of the agreement.”
Zangauer also called on the current government to be replaced, so that it would “not succeed in its plot to erase and make people forget the [October 7 Hamas] massacre, the abandonment, and the utter failure for which it bears responsibility on every front.”
Golan responded to Zangauker’s Monday statement, acknowledging that he had decided not to place her on the party’s list.
“I know that my decision disappointed you, and I am deeply sorry for that. It was my decision, and I take full responsibility for it and for the pain it caused you,” he stated, directly addressing Zangauker.
Golan added that he had decided not to reserve a spot on the party list, “out of respect for the decision of the 113,000 members of the Democrats and out of confidence in the excellent list they chose.”
“This was a decision I made regarding the list as a whole, and other candidates who were considered for reserved spots received the same message from me: there will be no reserved spots.”
“I offered you a significant role in the campaign and to continue working with us after the election. That offer still stands. I see you as an important partner on this journey, and I hope you will choose to accept it and that we will accomplish much more together,” Golan continued.
Golan remained in first place throughout Democrats' primaries
During the Democrats’ primaries, Golan remained in first place. Current Democrats MK Naama Lazimi secured the second slot on the list. She was followed by fellow Democrats MKs Gilad Kariv in third place and MK Efrat Rayten in fourth.
The fifth through 10th slots went to social and political activist Yaya Fink, former Meretz MK Gaby Lasky, social activist and reservist Omri Ronen, former Meretz MK Michal Rozin, judicial reform protest leader Moshe Radman, and Arab Israeli activist Soumaya Bashir.
The voting reached an 86% turnout, the party said, after the primaries were held. The large group of 112,000 of its registered members was eligible to cast votes virtually for candidates throughout the day.
The candidates included 17 leaders involved in protest movements and public activism, 12 former IDF officers, 11 candidates with backgrounds in the civil service, 19 women, nine candidates under the age of 45, eight former Knesset members, four candidates from the Arab community, three from the Druze community, and two members of the LGBTQ community.
The Democrats have stated that more than 114,000 people have joined the party in total.