Yair Golan Calls Killing Khamenei a Mistake, Cites Israeli Interests

Yair Golan, leader of the Democraticim party, stated that the elimination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei "did not serve Israel's interests," arguing that the action led to more extremist figures taking power. Speaking at a cultural event in Rishon LeZion on Friday, Golan asserted, "I have no doubt that eliminating Khamenei was a mistake. Not because he was beyond death, but because it did not serve Israel's interests." He suggested there was a strategic advantage to having an elderly, veteran leader like Khamenei, who was 86 years old at the time of his death. Regarding Khamenei's son and potential successor, Golan expressed his impression that he is "subject to the control of the extremely extremist Iranian security leadership." Golan further contended that after eliminating the "first tier of leadership in many vital areas," Israel found itself facing "more extremist and violent individuals." He identified Israel's "Rising Lion" operation in June 2025 as the peak of its achievements against Iran, noting that the subsequent "Roaring Lion" operation did not improve Israel's situation. Golan accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of setting an "unrealistic war aim, the overthrow of the Iranian regime, an aim that ultimately failed and was never achieved." Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his complex in Tehran on February 28, as part of the initial wave of a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran. Golan, a former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli military, heads the left-wing party formed from the merger of the Labor and Meretz parties. His remarks come ahead of the Israeli elections scheduled for October 27, with his party part of the opposition seeking to oust Netanyahu.