Yair Golan Calls Khamenei's Assassination a Mistake, Cites 'Roar of the Lion' as Detrimental

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, stated on Friday that the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei was a mistake, not because he didn't deserve to die, but because it did not serve Israel's interests. Speaking at a "Culture Friday" event in Rishon LeZion, Golan also asserted that the "Roar of the Lion" operation worsened Israel's situation. He suggested that while an elderly leader like Khamenei might have advantages, the current leader, Khamenei's son, is controlled by Iran's extremist security establishment.

Golan's remarks were part of a series of meetings leading up to the 2026 elections, moderated by i24NEWS commentator Yossi Yehoshua. The discussion covered security and policy issues, including a potential strike in Iran, the continued rule of Hamas in Gaza, the conscription of Haredim into the IDF, and the return of hostages.

Regarding a strike in Iran, Golan expressed distrust in Prime Minister Netanyahu but estimated that Netanyahu's operational freedom is currently limited. He also criticized the government's funding of the Haredi population, calling it "organized unemployment" and "unbearable."

Golan further accused Netanyahu of perpetuating Hamas's rule in Gaza by refusing to establish an alternative governing body, labeling this a "crime against the IDF, against Israeli citizens, and against IDF soldiers."

In response to comments made by Naftali Bennett, who suggested that controversial figures like Golan should not hold sensitive positions such as Minister of Justice, Golan stated that the justice system must be in the hands of those who protect its independence.