The Shas party launched a sharp attack Thursday night against Naftali Bennett, ridiculing him as “a joke” after comments he made targeting party chairman Aryeh Deri.

The backlash followed an interview Bennett gave to Walla!, where he addressed the possibility of forming a coalition with Yair Golan, head of the Democrats party.

When asked whether he would be prepared to sit in a government together with Golan, Bennett responded that he would be open to partnering with anyone who serves in the military. “Anyone who can serve in a tank can serve in the government. [United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzchok] Goldknopf and Deri, who are working against the IDF, are not any closer to me.”

In response, Shas characterized Bennett’s remarks as a “panicked performance,” claiming that he appeared with an earpiece and was being fed anti-chareidi talking points by advisers during the interview.

“It’s sad that this is all he has to offer the people of Israel in the middle of a war – more incitement and tearing the nation apart,” the party stated.

The party continued its criticism by pointing to Bennett’s tenure as prime minister, saying: “The man who formed a government with Mansour Abbas and the Muslim Brotherhood now dares to criticize Netanyahu on security and victory. Embarrassing. Even the opposition bloc has figured out that he’s a joke.”