Yair Golan presents Democrats' platform ahead of Israel's elections — Jerusalem Post
In Israel, Yair Golan, leader of the left-wing Democrats party, presented the platform ahead of elections to the 26th Knesset, scheduled for October 27. The party, created in 2024 through the merger of Labor and Meretz, advocates changes to the political system, protection of the judiciary, religious pluralism and diplomatic approaches to security, Jerusalem Post reports.
Golan, a former deputy chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and a Meretz lawmaker, said the party seeks “fundamental changes” concerning democracy, the rule of law and government accountability. He also pledged to pursue legislation banning politicians facing criminal charges from serving as prime minister or minister.
Judicial system and civil rights
The Democrats were also formed with the participation of representatives of protest movements against the government and judicial reform. Golan and the party's lawmakers supported Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara during the government's attempts to dismiss her. Golan accused National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of politicizing the police and criticized his approach to combating crime in the Arab community.
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The party advocates the separation of religion and state, including the right of businesses to operate on Shabbat where permitted by law. Golan also supports state recognition of civil marriages concluded outside the Chief Rabbinate system.
Position on the Palestinian territories and coalition
In its platform, the Democrats oppose the annexation of the West Bank and oppose the expansion of settlements. The party promises to end state funding for new outposts and farms in the West Bank that, in its assessment, were established illegally and contrary to security considerations. Lawmaker Gilad Kariv has stated that, in the future, there is a need to establish a demilitarized Palestinian state as part of a regional agreement.
The Democrats ruled out joining a coalition with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud party, while Golan also said that the party would not form a joint coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties. At the same time, it is the only opposition party that openly supports the participation of Arab parties, including Ra'am, in a future government. According to polls, the Democrats could receive between 9 and 11 seats.
