Yair Golan Outlines Vision for Israel's Future

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, presented his vision for Israel's future in an interview with Maariv Lanoar, focusing on equal service for all citizens, religion-state relations, and achieving lasting security. He described the Democrats as "fighters for democracy" who will combat threats to Israeli democracy posed by the current government. Golan identified the erosion of public trust in state institutions, including the Supreme Court, Knesset, IDF, and Shin Bet, as the most difficult issue to repair from the current term. He expressed a desire to serve in any future government role that safeguards security and strengthens democracy.

Golan believes a different reality is possible for Israelis, one where young people can study without fear of rockets and alarms, recalling his own secure childhood. He advocates for universal service, stating that "everyone should serve. Jews, Arabs, secular, religious, Haredi... whoever does not serve will not receive any benefit." He proposed that while military service should be prioritized and most rewarded, alternative service paths could exist. Golan suggested that those who refuse any form of service should be denied state benefits, including in higher education and vocational training.

Regarding national security, Golan emphasized the need for swift, decisive military victories followed by long-term agreements, citing the peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan as crucial security assets. He expressed optimism about achieving normalization and stable security with Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, though he views Qatar as a hostile state whose financial support for Gaza contributed to the October 7th failures.

Golan asserted that his party is the only one genuinely seeking to heal national divisions, attributing the rift to discrimination and the concept of first and second-class citizens. He stated his willingness to sit in a unity government with right-wing politicians, provided there is agreement on democratic rules, equality for all citizens, and honest governance free from corruption. However, he believes none of the current coalition parties should be part of the next government, which he anticipates will be formed by current opposition parties.

On religion and state, Golan argued that freedom of religion, rather than coercion, would enhance the perception of Judaism and allow for the practical application of prophetic morality. He firmly stated that the state should not fund educational institutions, particularly independent Haredi schools, that do not teach core curriculum subjects, as this neglects the future of the state and its youth. If he were Education Minister, he would grant more autonomy to principals, increase teacher salaries, and reduce class sizes. To combat the high cost of living, Golan proposed shifting national priorities to fund benefits like subsidized daycare and free school trips instead of providing funds to citizens who do not contribute to the state.

Golan addressed past controversial statements, including comparing current Israeli trends to those in Germany, asserting that the predicted trends of deep public corruption, extreme nationalism, and draft evasion have materialized. He also clarified remarks about killing babies, explaining they referred to provocative statements by Israeli ministers calling for the bombing of Gaza or the killing of children, which he deems unacceptable for "the Jewish state." He highlighted his own family's military service as proof of his patriotism.