Yair Golan

Over half of Israelis want PM Netanyahu to retire from politics, not run in Knesset election - poll

Poll: 55% of Israelis want Netanyahu to step down, as the coalition drops to 49 seats and the opposition strengthens to a majority.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a Jerusalem Day event, May 14, 2026; illustrative.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich delivers a speech earlier this year.

What is Zionism, and who is a Zionist? - opinion

HEAD OF the Democrats party, Yair Golan, speaks at the anual Berl Katznelson Center (BKC) conference, on May 07, 2026.

Golan: Eisenkot should join Democrats or Bennett-Lapid, opposition should partner with Ra'am

Democrats leader Yair Golan (center) announces newest party member  Moran Zer Katzenstein, founder of the Bonot Alternativa organization (right), Monday May 4, 2026.

Women’s rights activist Moran Katzenstein joins Democrats, Golan vows to advance gender equality


'Take to the streets': Opposition calls for protests across Israel after Gallant's firing

Head of The Democrats party, Yair Golan, called for protests, saying, "Take to the streets."

Israelis take to the streets in Tel Aviv following Yoav Gallant's firing, November 5, 2024

'Declaration of war': Israeli leaders react to massive Iranian assault

Democrats chairman Yair Golan said that the missile attack was a "declaration of war" but said that Israel should not be hasty. 

 Anti-missile system fires interception missiles as missiles fired from Iran, as seen in the West Bank on October 1, 2024

Opposition party leaders call for ground invasion of Lebanon

The leader of the opposition, MK Yair Lapid, called on the government to announce the diplomatic and strategic goals for the northern conflict.

 Yair Lapid, Yair Golan, and Avigdor Liberman.

The military must defend the country but not preach on political or social matters - opinion

What should be viewed as incorrect is using an army platform to comment on political, social, and religious concerns.

  BRIG.-GEN. Barak Hiram stoked anger when he said that current Israeli society is detached from past commitments and from the burden of its future, and above all is devoted to the moment, the writer notes.

Hamas knew the IDF's weaknesses, say reserve officers at October 7 probe

The Hamas terrorists “knew that the IDF knows how to handle a maximum of five points in parallel,” Democrats Party leader, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yair Golan told the committee Tuesday.

 Yair Golan testifies before the committee.

Israel on its way to temporarily extending mandatory IDF service

Knesset extends IDF service to 36 months temporarily, sparking debate over fairness and military readiness amid financial concerns and opposition.

 An IDF soldier is seen wearing a Jewish tzitzit while carrying a weapon in Jerusalem, May 13, 2024

Netanyahu a 'whiner and coward' for incitement complaints, Lapid says

"If we do not hit the streets with force, together and now, the abandonment of our brothers and sisters will continue."

 Yair Lapid speaking on the 15th of July 2024, before the Knesset goes on reccess.

With an overwhelming majority, Meretz and Labor approve merge, becoming the Democrats

The Labor Party conference approved a merger with Meretz, strengthening Yair Golan’s control. Despite criticism, the agreement passed with an overwhelming majority.

 Yair Golan facing the crowd before his speech following the vote to merge Meretz and Labor parties

Labor, Meretz delegates to approve merger in Tel Aviv convention

The chairman of the new party, Yair Golan, is reportedly considering former justice and foreign minister Tzipi Livni as the number two spot in the party.

 Labor and Meretz parties reach a merger agreement, June 30, 2024.

Yair Golan: Hero of Oct. 7 aims to revive Israel's moribund Left

Golan is similar to Labor leaders from a different era, who carried a sword in one hand and an olive branch in the other.

 YAIR GOLAN speaks after the results were announced in the Labor Party primary election, in Tel Aviv, on Tuesday.