The faction's four top members--Benny Gantz, Yair Lapid, Moshe Ya'alon, and Gabi Ashkenazi--held a meeting at an Aroma Cafe in Ashdod, where they spoke to supporters as well as to the press.
"We have seen in recent days how people who are against the state are given a platform," said Gantz.
"They are bringing spokesmen for Kahane and extremists to the Knesset." he added, referencing the candidacies of Otzma Yehudit members, disciples of the late rabbi Meir Kahane, who held racist views regarding Israel's Arab population.Gantz stated that in contrast "we are here to serve [Israeli] society and all the citizens of the state."
Lapid took a swipe at the ruling Likud Party, saying "We were told that Ashdod is a Likud city, [but] look how much support and love we're receiving here, and how many people say they're coming over to us."