Yair Golan Sparks Outrage with Harsh Remarks Against Ultra-Orthodox Community

Yair Golan, chairman of the far-left Democratic Party in Israel, has ignited controversy after a recording from a closed activists' meeting in Kiryat Ono revealed him making severe derogatory remarks about the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community. In the recording, Golan referred to the Haredim as "parasites" living off the rest of the population and criticized their rapid population growth, which he said now constitutes 13.5% of Israel's population. He claimed that the Haredi community is an unbearable burden on the state, stating, "You are too heavy, we cannot carry you on our backs. We cannot work for you and pay taxes for you."

Golan further intensified the rhetoric by comparing the treatment of the Haredim to that of Palestinians, suggesting options of separation or integration, similar to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These comments follow previous controversies involving Golan's statements and have sparked renewed accusations of incitement and hatred from political opponents and public figures. The exposure of this recording is likely to fuel further debate about societal divisions and the role of the Haredi community in Israeli society.