Yair Golan Slams Netanyahu Coalition Over Police Violence and Military Draft Inequality

Democrats party leader Yair Golan launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and Shas chairman Aryeh Deri on Wednesday, accusing them of creating unequal classes of citizens and shielding draft dodgers at the expense of those who serve.

Golan said, "Police violence is wrong. Always. No matter against whom it is directed," but blamed Ben Gvir for applying a double standard. He said that when protesters for the hostages and against the judicial overhaul were beaten, dragged, and left bleeding in the streets, Ben Gvir encouraged and backed the violence. Now, Golan argued, when the targets are a public the government protects politically, Ben Gvir is suddenly talking about restraint and proportionality.

He said this is the essence of what he called the Netanyahu-Ben Gvir-Deri government, a system with "two types of citizens": those who work, serve, and bear the burden, and those who evade service while receiving political protection. Golan also singled out Deri, saying that "three of Deri's grandchildren are classified as deserters," while reserve soldiers are collapsing under the load of the war.

Golan ended with a campaign pledge ahead of the next election, promising to replace the government, restore equal law for everyone, clean the police of loyalists to the ruling camp, and rebuild public trust in law enforcement. "There will be no first-class and second-class citizens here," he said. "Equal duties. Equal rights. Equal service. One law for all. Yes, even for Deri's grandchildren."