Meretz

Israel Election 2026: What does Yair Golan’s Democrats party stand for?

“If I put this ballot in the box, what government, policies, and political reality am I helping create?”

Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats party, with party members following the announcement of the results of The Democrats party primaries ahead of the upcoming elections, in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 20, 2026.
(L-R): Yair Golan, Gilad Kariv

No. 47: Yair Golan and Gilad Kariv: Reviving Israel’s fractured Left

Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats party, with party members following the announcement of the results of The Democrats party primaries ahead of the upcoming elections, in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 20, 2026.

Yair Golan's Democrats list for the Knesset cements Labor's shift to the far Left - opinion

Leader of the Democrats party Yair Golan leads a faction meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on June 15, 2026.

Democrats Party breaks record of 75,000 members, sets date for primaries ahead of elections


Yair Golan launches campaign to lead Labor, Left

Other than Golan, the only other person to announce her candidacy is current Labor MK Efrat Rayten.

 Former Meretz MK Yair Golan

Unite the Left, topple Netanyahu's government: Yair Golan's two goals - interview

Part of the current lack of leadership lies in the fact that the goals for the war against Hamas are unachievable, Golan argued.

 Former Meretz MK Yair Golan

Israel's Labor largely unaffected after Michaeli's resignation, election poll shows

While the votes for Labor almost doubled since last week, they would still not get enough to cross the threshold.

 Labor party leader MK Merav Michaeli holds a press conference in Tel Aviv, December 7, 2023.

Labor leader to quit politics, calls for primaries

Meretz calls to unite Israel's Left in joint primaries • Labor primaries to take place in four months

 Labor leader MK Merav Michaeli announces retirement from Israeli politics on December 7, 2023

Spanish PM against Israeli judicial reform after trying similar legislation

Spain's PM tried to pass similar legislation to the judicial reform in December but was blocked by the Spanish Constitutional Court.

 Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attends a joint news conference with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, at Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain April 26, 2023.

'Heil Kahane': Former Meretz leader likens Ben-Gvir to a Nazi

In a now-deleted tweet, Zehava Galon shared a photo of the Otzma Yehudit chairman with his right arm raised in the air.

 L: Former Meretz leader Zehava Gal-On, R: National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir

Israel must stay strong internally - opinion

Although the government coalition has a relatively solid majority in the Knesset, a further review shows that in diplomacy and security, it has greater support from the public.

 BENJAMIN NETANYAHU and Yair Lapid encounter each other in the Knesset plenum. For both sides, short-term victory could mean long-term damage to our society, says the writer.

Lapid’s civil-war incitement won’t work - opinion

Lapid, Gantz and the rest of the “anybody but Bibi” politicians and pundits have been doubling down on the very behavior responsible for their poor showing at the ballot box.

 Israeli Prime Minister and Head of the Yesh Atid party Yair Lapid speaks during a faction meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on December05, 2022.

Avi Maoz is alienating even Likud members

National unity, if it ever arrives, will have to wait for a much later phase and very different circumstances.

 MK AVI Maoz attends a discussion in the Knesset plenum, last month.

Grapevine November 6, 2022: Pride before the fall

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

 YITZHAK RABIN