Israel Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Liberman responded to Opposition Leader Yair Lapid's interview at the Security and Service Conference organized by ynet, Yedioth Ahronoth and the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). Lapid stated that "Liberman's statement about 'soldiers falling on the altar of coalition preservation' is gut-wrenching." Liberman replied: "Our role as elected officials is to prevent bereavement and pain. Even when the truth hurts, it must be spoken, especially when it concerns saving human lives."