Yair Golan: Arab-Jewish Partnership in Government is Positive

Yair Golan, Chairman of the Democrats, stated in an interview on "Meet the Press" that he supports forming a government in partnership with Ra'am, the Arab Islamist party. He described Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas as a "good partner" in the previous Knesset, emphasizing that a Jewish-Arab partnership in government is beneficial for Israel. Golan believes that the Arab public has demonstrated its commitment to Israel through actions like aiding the injured and rescuing civilians during crises.

Golan also addressed the upcoming election, stating that the leaders of the "change bloc" will unite behind a single candidate for Prime Minister after the elections. He dismissed concerns about potential coalition instability, asserting that each component of a future coalition has a role to play. He also commented on the future of the West Bank, warning that annexing five million Palestinians would lead to the "liquidation of Israel" and advocating for separation.

Regarding the ongoing security situation and the war, Golan criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that Netanyahu "endangers Israel's security" and has prioritized his political future over the nation's well-being. He contrasted this with the IDF's ability to recover from failures, citing the October 7th attacks. Golan also mentioned that he and Gadi Eisenkot have been assigned a threat level of four out of six by the Israel Police, indicating a need for security attention.

In response to questions about campaign figures Gabi Lasky and Moshe Radman, Golan clarified that they are not being hidden and are actively involved in the party's campaign materials and efforts. He expressed pride in his team, describing them as "fighters" who have advocated for Israeli democracy.