Democrats Party Primaries Confirm Golan’s Leadership Amid Internal Tensions

The Democrats party held digital primaries on July 20, 2026, with nearly 100,000 members voting to select their candidate list. Party chairman Yair Golan expressed relief at the results, which largely aligned with his preferences. The top three spots went to incumbent Knesset members Lezmi, Kriya, and Reiten, all former Labor Party affiliates and key parliamentary figures whom Golan values for maintaining the party’s left-wing identity.

New candidates such as Yair (Yaya) Pink, Omri Ronen, and Moshe Radman Abutbul also secured places on the list, reinforcing the Democrats as a political home for protest movements. Golan succeeded in excluding controversial figures like Naor Narkis, whose extreme remarks toward religious communities he opposed. The party openly embraces the "left" label, aiming to attract traditional left-wing voters.

However, tensions surfaced with the inclusion of former Meretz MK Gabi Leski at number six, known for her militant stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and outspoken criticism of Israeli policies. Another contentious candidate is Somaya Bashir, who faced internal criticism for downplaying LGBTQ issues and making inflammatory social media comparisons. Bashir previously withdrew from Labor primaries after being implicated in an illegal ballot box operation.

The Democrats’ internal dynamics echo past challenges faced by Meretz, including the rebellious behavior of former MK Jida Rinawi-Zoabi, which strained coalition relations. Golan’s camp worries that independent-minded MKs like Leski and Bashir could complicate the fragile coalition’s stability.

At the primaries event in Tel Aviv, veteran Labor members who participated expressed mixed feelings, noting the party’s shift away from the legacy of Yitzhak Rabin toward a Meretz-style agenda. Moshe Radman Abutbul wore a "Rabin Was Right" shirt, but many others on stage seemed less connected to Rabin’s heritage. One Labor veteran remarked that the Democrats now represent "Meretz’s legacy, not Rabin’s."