Yair Golan
@YairGolan1 · Middle East
Yair Golan is followed by Storyz World for government and public service coverage connected to Israel in the Middle East chapter.
Paranoia, it turns out, is a family business. Last week Netanyahu's wife fabricated treason plots. Today Netanyahu himself is framing me in a secret conspiracy with Shlomi Eldar. All in an attempt to evade his responsibility for the worst failure in Israel's history. These are the desperate lies of a man who feels the ground slipping from beneath his feet. And as the political noose tightens, Netanyahu becomes more dangerous. When power is slipping from his hands, there is no limit he will not cross to deflect the fire from himself. We are putting an end to this, which is why I filed a lawsuit today against Sara Netanyahu — this is a civil indictment by an entire camp against a regime that has lost all its restraints. His attempts to erase the blood smeared across his face will not succeed. We will fight for the truth, establish a state commission of inquiry, and ensure that those responsible face justice.
Translated from HebrewFor three years, the government abandoned the fighters, combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, survivors of the inferno, and the families left to cope alone with the wounds of October 7 and the war. This is a criminal abandonment of the people to whom the state owes the most. We are stepping into exactly the place where the government disappeared. We Democrats pledge to be the home and the shield of those who fought for us. For Yoav. For combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress. For hundreds of thousands of Israelis who went out to defend the state, survived the inferno, or lost what was most precious to them. In the next government, we will establish a national headquarters for mental rehabilitation, led by Gil Sheli, Yoav’s father, a combat veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress, whom we appointed as our project coordinator. Gil fought for our son. He felt the pain of the suffering and experienced the abandonment and its price firsthand. The national headquarters will have broad interministerial authority and will operate on the basis of five principles: * The state comes to you - the state will proactively identify those who need help and offer assistance. * Continuity of treatment and rehabilitation: from community support and guidance to intensive treatment and rehabilitation - according to each person’s needs. * Rehabilitation before bureaucracy: instead of a system that starts with disability percentages and entitlements, a system that starts with the question of how to return a person to life. * There is one address: with no running between systems, there will be a clear point of contact, continuous support, and a dramatic shortening of waiting times for recognition and treatment. * A strong public system: an investment of at least 1.5 billion shekels in public mental health and a significant increase in the number of therapists. Those whom we sent to fight for us will not be left alone in the battle for the life that follows. We will fight for everyone who fought for us. We will leave no one behind.
Translated from HebrewShas has lost its way. Netanyahu's collaborators. The people who stood at Kaplan are among Israel's greatest patriots: military veterans, male and female fighters, women and men who carried the country on their backs, families of hostages who fought for those dear to them, and working families who get up every morning, pay, serve, and are suffocating from the collapse Israel has reached under Netanyahu and Deri. I am a proud Kaplanist. Proud to stand with those who are fighting for democracy, equality, the hostages, and the Israel of us all.
Translated from HebrewWhom should we believe - all the sources testifying that a warning conversation took place with Netanyahu before 7.10. Or Netanyahu, who lies like he breathes? Netanyahu - you knew. You failed. You are guilty.
Translated from HebrewThere will be no next Silman or Shikli among us. The Democrats' list can be trusted.
Translated from HebrewPISA data are a real alarm for Israel’s education system. The Israeli government has abandoned public education, and today we are seeing the price. While tens of billions are being poured into sectoral education systems that do not teach the core curriculum, the education in which most Israeli children study is being eroded and weakened. The most worrying figure is the depth of the decline specifically in public education: a drop of 52 points in reading, 29 in mathematics, and 28 in science. These are not just a few more points on an international test. This is a sign of a deep national crisis. This crisis did not emerge yesterday. It is the result of a distorted political set of priorities. A student in public education receives 10,000 shekels less per year than a student in state-religious education; public schools are dealing with a severe shortage of teachers; according to school principals, the learning of nearly half of Israel’s students is being harmed because of teachers who have not undergone proper training — almost twice the OECD average. And instead of backing female teachers, male teachers, and principals, the government is busy with intimidation, silencing, and politicizing the education system. A country that wants a strong economy, advanced science, security, and a stable democracy cannot afford to abandon public education. Therefore, the Democrats will demand the Education portfolio in the next government. We intend to turn public education into a national mission: end discrimination in funding, seriously address the teacher crisis, restore backing and professional freedom to education professionals, and ensure that every girl and boy receives an excellent education. It is time for the Education Ministry to get back to work for all our children.
Translated from HebrewYou knew, you ignored it, you failed. You are guilty. The case of 1,200 murdered: causing a massacre through negligence. Netanyahu, this is on you.
Translated from HebrewThe stories of “They didn't wake me up” are over. He knew. He was warned. In letters written in the blood of thousands of Israelis—civilians and fallen IDF soldiers—we rise today to another chilling realization: at the head of Israel's government stands a man who abandons his responsibility. This is not a lapse in judgment, but deliberate and criminal abandonment. The investigation revealing that Netanyahu received an explicit warning from the president of the Emirates and deliberately concealed it from the heads of the army and the Shin Bet shatters all the lies he told us. He was warned again and again. The security establishment warned. We warned—the hundreds of thousands of democrats who stood in squares, on bridges, and in the streets and cried out: You are endangering Israel and leading us to disaster. And he called us anarchists and Kaplanists. He preferred his personal survival, and the draft dodgers and extremists. Now it is clear: Netanyahu is unfit and illegitimate. His place is in prison for his crimes against the State of Israel. We must replace him now!
Translated from HebrewFrom our list, a list of women and men who have fought for democracy in the streets for years, there is no chance that the next Silman or Shikli will emerge
Translated from HebrewNetanyahu and Katz are unfit to manage Israel’s security. I commanded the Judea and Samaria Division for more than two years, at the height of the Second Intifada. During that period, we apprehended 130 suicide bombers. There were serious attacks, but we never managed the campaign with hysteria and incitement. We acted forcefully, with composure and professionalism. We combined the IDF, Shin Bet, police and Civil Administration, thwarted terrorism and brought the level of attacks down to the lowest level since the outbreak of the intifada. Netanyahu and Katz, together with Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, are doing exactly the opposite. Instead of providing security in Judea and Samaria, they are setting it ablaze and creating an escalation. Israel’s security is not what is before their eyes; only their political survival is. This reckless policy could bring a third intifada upon us. IDF soldiers and Israeli citizens will pay the price. Those responsible for the October 7 massacre must not be allowed to continue managing the country’s security. On October 27, we will replace them and restore capable, professional and responsible leadership to Israel. We will restore security to Israel.
Translated from Hebrew1,369 doctors left Israel within three years — this is what this failed and terrible government has done. To every male and female doctor who has already left, and to everyone considering leaving: Don’t give up on Israel. On 27.10 we will replace the government that is driving the best minds away from here. We will restore investment in public healthcare, science, education and the economy — and build here again a country that people want to live in, work in and raise their children in. A country we will be proud of. Don’t give up on Israel. Don’t leave. We will fight and save Israel. This is our home and our grandchildren’s home.
Translated from HebrewOn October 7, tens of thousands of Israelis—fighters, police officers, civilians, and members of civilian defense squads—from across the political spectrum rose up and went out to fight. They did not ask one another whom they had voted for. They did not check who was right-wing and who was left-wing. They simply charged into hell to save lives. This is the Israel I believe in. An Israel of partnership and camaraderie, an Israel of sanity. Of a public that rises up and fights for its home and does not try to blur the truth.
Translated from HebrewIsrael can and must become a functioning state again. A state in which the police are loyal to the law, not to a minister; in which criminal organizations fear the state, not citizens fearing them; in which a farmer in the Negev and the Galilee knows that the state protects him; in which those who serve receive, and those who evade service are not rewarded; in which teachers are given the freedom to teach and children are educated in democracy, tolerance, Zionism, and responsibility. This requires leadership that knows how to define a mission, appoint professionals, and let them work. Without politicization, without political patronage, and without deliberate chaos. There are excellent people and systems in Israel that can be rebuilt. We simply need to return the state to the hands of those who came to work for it. I spoke with Omri Livne in Israel Hayom about internal security, the police, education, equality in service—and above all, about the state we intend to build here after the elections For the full interview >>>
Translated from HebrewThis is the result of Haredi terror. Café BaSimta wanted to do something simple: open on Shabbat in Jerusalem. Not force anyone to desecrate Shabbat, and not change anyone's way of life. Only allow those who choose it to drink coffee on Shabbat in their own city. For weeks, they subjected the café to terror, violence, protests, and threats—until it gave in and decided to close. This is what coercion looks like. And if we do not stop it, it will move on to the next café. We Democrats respect the Shabbat of those who choose to observe it. And we demand exactly the same respect for our Shabbat. Jerusalem belongs to all of us. Israel belongs to all of us. In the next government, we will defend the freedom to live here as Jews, secular people, traditional people, and religious people—each in their own way. A business that wants to open on Shabbat where the law allows it will open. Whoever wants to observe Shabbat will observe it. We do not ask permission for our freedom. We defend it. We fight for it. And that is exactly what we will do. Because without the Democrats, there will not truly be democracy.
Translated from HebrewWhile Hamas terrorists seize communities, murder, rape, and kidnap Israelis, the prime minister is in an inconceivable state of disconnect from the chief of staff. This is extremely serious evidence of the deficient and failed performance of the person who disregarded the warnings from the security establishment and disregarded the lives of his citizens as they were slaughtered. Netanyahu is confused and has lost his grip on reality. No wonder he has been running an ugly campaign for three years to blame everyone for the most terrible failure that has happened here. He and his people are trying to rewrite history and blame those who woke up and went out to fight for their home. In the government we will lead, we will establish a state commission of inquiry, the truth will be investigated to the end, responsibility will be determined, and whoever needs to face justice will do so. We will put the security of Israel’s citizens at the top of our priorities.
Translated from HebrewThree people were murdered in Nazareth. 200 people have been murdered since the beginning of the year. Behind this unfathomable number are families, children, entire lives. And there is a failed, callous, and evil government that abandoned them. Under Ben Gvir, criminal organizations are thriving and growing stronger, and weapons are flooding the streets. When criminals run the streets and the minister is busy with TikTok, incitement, and a politics of hatred and racism, the price is the lives of innocent people. To the Arab public I say: You are entitled to security. Your lives are not expendable. The State of Israel must protect you—and we will do so. On 27.10, we will have the opportunity to change this from the ground up. We will demand the Internal Security portfolio and implement the “Root Treatment” plan: we will dismantle the criminal organizations, collect the illegal weapons, strengthen the police, and restore the rule of law to the streets. This is a promise. And this is my personal commitment. This abandonment will end. We will fight crime, save lives, and restore to every citizen in Israel the most basic thing a state owes them: security.
Translated from HebrewYou “don’t think,” Bibi? You know perfectly well that there was no betrayal. On October 7, we went out to save lives while you froze. A true leader does not stammer in the face of blood libels; he apologizes to the fighters and condemns the lies that came from within his own house. This statement by Netanyahu is not an apology, but an attempt to minimize the damage.
Translated from HebrewAn apology within 24 hours and compensation to be donated to Nova survivors, or a lawsuit for 2.5 million shekels. Sara Netanyahu spread a false conspiracy in an attempt to rewrite October 7, turn those who went out to save lives into traitors and those who abandoned Israel's security into victims. We will not let them erase the truth and the heroism of the fighters, volunteers and civilians who stepped up when the government collapsed. We will establish a state commission of inquiry, expose the truth and find those responsible for the failure.
Translated from HebrewBibi, Defense Minister Gallant, senior defense officials, the chief of staff, and the head of the Shin Bet tried to wake you up and warn you dozens of times from the moment the government was sworn in, and you did not wake up. In an interview on The Patriots program in April 2023, you addressed their warnings and said, “I think there is an exaggeration in this.” Like everyone responsible for the failure, you too will be held accountable for this negligence immediately after we enter the next government. I pledge!
Translated from HebrewWhen the IDF chief of staff warns of an escalating process in Judea and Samaria, a responsible government would act immediately: resolutely thwart terrorism, stop the Jewish rioters, calm the area, and prevent the opening of another front. But Netanyahu does not want quiet. He needs chaos. He has fallen in love with the forever war and exploits the security situation for his own survival - another front, more escalation, another blow to security, another risk to soldiers’ lives - the main thing is to remain in power. We will restore a responsible security policy to Israel: a firm hand against terrorism - all terrorism. We will restore law and order to Judea and Samaria.
Translated from HebrewThree years ago, when Levin announced a regime coup, Netanyahu declared war on democracy; now we are seeing an escalation ahead of the elections. Netanyahu is afraid because he knows he is about to lose. Therefore, he is already laying the groundwork to challenge the integrity of the elections and delegitimize their results. When the chair of the election committee is under threat and in danger, the elections themselves are also in danger. Just as we went out to fight for democracy three years ago and managed to stop a regime coup, we will also go out to fight for the integrity of the elections. We will fight for a democratic, liberal, free and secure Israel - and we will win.
Translated from HebrewThe Democrats will demand the Education portfolio in the next government. It is not enough to replace a failed education minister with a more polite version - we will demand a real change of direction. Because without strong Democrats in the next government - there is no real democracy Watch my full statement >>>
Translated from HebrewEven after two years, the feeling of missed opportunity does not go away; we could have saved them. Carmel, Hirsch, Alex, Eden, Almog and Uri were kidnapped alive and could have returned alive. But Netanyahu and his heartless coalition abandoned them to be murdered in captivity. Not one of us will forget the day we learned of their deaths. The rumors that began to spread on Saturday night, the official announcement and their pictures on the front pages of the newspapers, which were confirmed on Sunday morning. A black flag flew over that day. A black flag of abandonment. Of failure. Of a government that preferred political survival over saving lives. Even after their murder, Netanyahu and his people tried to suppress the struggle. They leaked to Bild a document whose sole purpose was to turn the demand to bring the hostages back into a political struggle. They tried to silence the streets and make us believe that our struggle was harmful. But we did not let them. Precisely in the hardest moments, we continued to take to the streets, fight, demand a deal and give voice to those who were left behind. If we had listened to them and stopped fighting, we would not have saved the rest of the hostages. And we will continue the struggle - on the first day after we form a government, we will make sure to establish a state commission of inquiry that will investigate all the failures and all those responsible. We will make sure the truth comes to light, and that those who failed in their duties stand trial. At the same time, we will make sure to do what this government failed to do - topple Hamas. We will truly disarm it, and build a responsible governing alternative in the Gaza Strip. We, the women and men who fight for democracy, owe this to the six murdered hostages, to the fallen soldiers and to the bereaved families. We owe it to a safer and more responsible future for Israel.
Translated from HebrewIf Yuvli is also responsible for the deaths of more than 2,000 Israelis in 3 years and does not take responsibility, then boycott him.
Translated from HebrewThe remarks by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef against the attorney general are a disgrace and further proof that Shas must not be brought back into the government. Anyone who wishes for God to harm the attorney general because she enforces the law cannot be a partner in a democratic government. And I refuse to accept that this is Judaism. Our Judaism is a Zionist, liberal and tolerant Judaism. A Judaism that respects people and upholds the law, not political wheeling and dealing that enlists God in a war against the gatekeepers. We, the fighters for democracy, fought for three years to stop the regime overhaul. Now we must complete the mission at the ballot box and in government: defend the High Court of Justice and the gatekeepers, stop funding draft evasion, and restore equal burden-sharing. The next government must be formed without Shas and without United Torah Judaism. Without either of the partners in the government of disaster, plunder and draft evasion. To make this happen, we need strong Democrats. Because without the Democrats, there will not truly be democracy.
Translated from Hebrew