Galit Distel Atbaryan, a parliament member who previously served in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet, apologized Sunday for contributing to the internal strife in Israel that preceded the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip.
Distel Atbaryan statement marks a rare admission of responsibility from a member of Netanyahu’s Likud Party for sowing division ahead of the attack, according to The Associated Press.
The former public diplomacy minister told Channel 13 TV that she “sinned against” the democratic, secular public and, as a result, “caused pain” for Israelis as well as fear.
“And I am sorry for this,” she said.