Yair Golan

Golan was born and raised in Rishon LeZion. His father, Gershon Goldner, fled with his parents from Nazi Germany to Mandatory Palestine in 1935.{{Cite web |date=4 October 2013 |title=אלוף פיקוד צפון: "נסראללה שם את כל הקלפים על אסד" - וואלה! חדשות |url=https://news.walla.co.il/item/2682933 |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=וואלה! |language=he}} His father served in the IDF and his last role was a senior technical assistant to the chief communications and electronics officer at the rank of lieutenant colonel (Sgan Aluf).{{Cite web |title=⁨הוקמה מםגרת־גג למפעליטלרד" " ⁩ — ⁨⁨דבר⁩ 3 ספטמבר 1973⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים |url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1973/09/03/01/article/43 |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=www.nli.org.il |language=he}} His mother, Rachel, was born in Tel Aviv{{Cite web |title=⁨‭..‬נגר"אדי ז י ⁩ — ⁨⁨הצפה⁩ 12 ינואר 1954⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים |url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/hzh/1954/01/12/01/article/61 |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=www.nli.org.il |language=he}} to Aryeh Rapoport, who immigrated from Ukraine in 1921,{{Cite web |title=אריה רפופורט |url=https://gen.rlzm.co.il/persons/%d7%90%d7%a8%d7%99%d7%94-%d7%a8%d7%a4%d7%a4%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%98/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=gen.rlzm.co.il |language=he-IL}} and Hana, born in moshav Nachalat Yehuda, now a part of Rishon LeZion.{{Cite web |title=חנה רפופורט |url=https://gen.rlzm.co.il/persons/%d7%97%d7%a0%d7%94-%d7%a8%d7%a4%d7%a4%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%98/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=gen.rlzm.co.il |language=he-IL}} His elder brother is a Geography and History professor in the University of Haifa{{Cite web |title=גולן ארנון |url=https://gen.rlzm.co.il/persons/%d7%92%d7%95%d7%9c%d7%9f-%d7%90%d7%a8%d7%a0%d7%95%d7%9f/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=gen.rlzm.co.il |language=he-IL}} and his younger sister is a special-education teacher in the Shamir Medical Center.{{Cite web |title=גולן רוני |url=https://gen.rlzm.co.il/persons/%d7%92%d7%95%d7%9c%d7%9f-%d7%a8%d7%95%d7%a0%d7%99-2/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=gen.rlzm.co.il |language=he-IL}}

Golan studied at Haviv Elementary School and "Yadlin" School in Rishon LeZion and Ort Singalovsky School in Tel Aviv.{{Cite web |title=גולן יאיר |url=https://gen.rlzm.co.il/persons/%d7%92%d7%95%d7%9c%d7%9f-%d7%99%d7%90%d7%99%d7%a8/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=gen.rlzm.co.il |language=he-IL}} Golan was the head of the "nest council" (one rank above instructors) of Rishon LeZion in the leftist Labour Zionist youth movement HaNoar HaOved.{{Cite web |title=צפו: באיזו תנועת נוער חברים חברי הכנסת? |url=https://www.srugim.co.il/468888-%d7%91%d7%90%d7%99%d7%96%d7%95-%d7%aa%d7%a0%d7%95%d7%a2%d7%aa-%d7%a0%d7%95%d7%a2%d7%a8-%d7%97%d7%91%d7%a8%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%94%d7%97%d7%9b%d7%99%d7%9d |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=סרוגים |language=he}}

File:יאיר גולן.jpg]]

File:South Lebanon Security Belt 52.jpg

File:Yair Golan Graffiti.jpg of Yair Golan in honor of his heroism during the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|266x266px]]

Golan was drafted into the IDF in 1980. After successfully passing the flight academy acceptance tests, he decided to follow his brother's steps and volunteer for the paratrooper brigade instead.{{Cite web |date=4 October 2013 |title=אלוף פיקוד צפון: "נסראללה שם את כל הקלפים על אסד" - וואלה! חדשות |url=https://news.walla.co.il/item/2682933 |access-date=9 January 2023 |website=וואלה! |language=he}} He served as a soldier and a squad leader and fought in the 1982 Lebanon War. After completing Officer Candidate School he became an infantry officer and returned to the Paratroopers Brigade as a platoon leader.{{Cite web |title=טבילת האש: הקרב ששינה את חיי אלוף יאיר גולן |url=https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/1/ART1/947/214.html |access-date=9 January 2023 |website=www.makorrishon.co.il}} Golan served as the commander of the Brigade's Anti-tank company and led the 890 Paratroop Battalion in counter-guerrilla operations in the South Lebanon conflict and in the First Intifada.{{Cite web|title=Israel defines redlines for Iran in Lebanon|url=http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Israel-defines-redlines-for-Iran-in-Lebanon-542344|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=11 February 2018|access-date=5 March 2025|first=Gal|last=Perl Finkel}} In 1993, he served as a Battalion Commander in IDF Officers' School and afterwards served as Judea and Samaria Division's Operations Branch Officer. Between the years 1996–1997 he commanded the Eastern brigade of Lebanon Liaison Unit and was injured in an encounter with a squad of Hezbollah militants.{{Cite news |title=יאיר גולן, אלוף פיקוד העורף, חושף שישראל מצויה בהיערכות למגננה רבתי לקראת שנת 2010 |language=he |work=הארץ |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/2008-12-31/ty-article/0000017f-db09-dee4-a9ff-ff7b2a950000 |access-date=9 January 2023}} He then served as the head of the Operations section in the Operations Directorate. During the Second Intifada, Golan commanded the Nahal Infantry Brigade.Finkel, Gal Perl [https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/IDF-promotes-officers-who-think-outside-the-box-but-still-follow-the-line-560286 IDF promotes officers who think outside the box, but still follow the line], The Jerusalem Post, 18 June 2018. Afterwards, he commanded the 91st Division and the Judea and Samaria Division.

From 2008–2011, Golan served as the Commander of Home Front Command, which he led through Operation Cast Lead. In July 2011, he served as the Commander of Israeli Northern Command, and in December 2014 as Deputy Chief of General Staff. According to Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, prior to Gadi Eisenkot's appointment as Chief of Staff in February 2015, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu preferred Golan over Eisenkot;{{Cite web |date=15 August 2018 |title=N12 - יעלון: נתניהו רצה את גולן כרמטכ"ל |url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-channel2/Channel-2-Newscast-q3_2018/Article-4b442ebf78e3561004.htm |access-date=12 October 2023 |website=N12}} however, Eisenkot was chosen, and Golan continued in his role. Golan retired from active service in March 2018,{{Cite web |date=3 December 2020 |title=תהליכים של שחיקה // מה הפך את יאיר גולן, בינתיים, להבטחה פוליטית גדולה אבל לא ממומשת? מאת: שרה ליבוביץ־דר |url=https://theliberal.co.il/תהליכים-של-שחיקה-מאת-שרה-ליבוביץ-דר/ |access-date=9 January 2023 |website=מגזין ליברל |language=he-IL}} after being replaced by Aluf Aviv Kochavi in May 2017.

Golan was a candidate for replacing Gadi Eisenkot, and discussions were held in 2018. There were strong objections from non-political parties due to his controversial statement during a Holocaust Day speech. Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman ended up choosing Aviv Kohavi over Golan.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

On 7 October 2023, the day of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Golan arrived as a civilian to the headquarters of the southern district of the Home Front Command, and asked its commander, Rafi Milo, to "re-enlist". He received a weapon and arrived in his private vehicle to the Gaza envelope, and rescued many survivors who were trapped in the area of the massacre at the Nature Festival near Re'im, using their phone locations. One of the people he rescued was the son of Haaretz journalist Nir Gontarz.{{Cite news |last=שקד |first=רענן |last2= |first2= |date=12 October 2023 |title="הרבה שנים אני מוגדר כ'שמאלן בוגד'. אף אחד לא יכול להגיד לי: נשארתם על הגדר. לא נשארנו. הלכנו להילחם" |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/yokra13625242 |access-date=3 April 2024 |work=Ynet |language=he}}{{Cite web |date=8 October 2023 |title=כתב 'הצינור' חושף: כך בנו חולץ ממסיבת הטבע ברעים |url=https://www.ice.co.il/media/news/article/983313 |access-date=10 October 2023 |website=Ice |language=he}}{{Cite news |last=גונטז' |first=ניר |date=11 October 2023 |title=הבן שלי אמר שיורים עליו. הייתי חייב לנסות להציל אותו |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/magazine/2023-10-11/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/0000018b-1f97-df31-a99f-7fd756b70000 |access-date=3 April 2024 |work=הארץ |language=he}} He described what he saw as very difficult scenes and claimed that the battle of that day was the worst defeat of the State of Israel ever.{{Cite web |title=סגן הרמטכ"ל לשעבר יאיר גולן: "התבוסה הקשה ביותר של מדינת ישראל אי פעם" |url=https://www.maariv.co.il/news/israel/Article-1043904 |access-date=10 October 2023 |website=www.maariv.co.il|date=10 October 2023 }}

Yair Golan was awarded 4 campaign ribbons

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

|105px

|105px

|105px

|105px

|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

|-

|First Lebanon War

|Second Lebanon War

|South Lebanon Security Zone

|Operation Protective Edge

|}

On 26 June 2019, Ehud Barak announced that Golan would join him in forming a new party called Israel Democratic Party which intended on challenging Netanyahu in the September 2019 Israeli legislative election.{{Cite web|title=Declaring Netanyahu's time is up, Ehud Barak announces formation of new party|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/declaring-netanyahus-time-as-up-ehud-barak-announces-formation-of-new-party/|work=The Times of Israel|date=26 June 2019|access-date=29 June 2019|first=Jacob|last=Magid}} The party later joined the Democratic Union alliance to contest the September election.{{Cite news|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/266471|title=Meretz and Israel Democratic unite|work=Arutz Sheva|access-date=7 January 2020|date=25 July 2019|first=Elad|last=Benari}} Golan was placed third on the list and served as a Member of the twenty-second Knesset. He re-activated the Democratic Choice party in January 2020, becoming its leader and joining the Democratic Union again in advance of the 2020 Israeli legislative election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/2-of-3-left-wing-slates-that-make-up-democratic-camp-ink-deal-to-stick-together/|title=2 of 3 left-wing slates that make up Democratic Camp ink deal to stick together|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=7 January 2020|date=7 January 2020|first=Jacob|last=Magid}} In December 2020, Golan announced his accession to Meretz, and was elected to the twenty-fourth Knesset. He was appointed Deputy Minister of Economy under Orna Barbivai.

On 6 July 2022, he announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Meretz party ahead of the elections for the twenty-fifth Knesset.{{Cite news |last=קוטב |first=אדם |date=6 July 2022 |title=יאיר גולן יתמודד על ראשות מרצ: "לבנות שמאל ציוני חזק וגאה" |language=he |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/sjekxczjc |access-date=25 December 2022}} He lost to Zehava Gal-On, but was elected fourth in the list elections and placed fifth.{{Cite web |date=23 August 2022 |title=זהבה גלאון נבחרה לראשות מרצ, היו"ר היוצא הורוביץ מחוץ לכנסת - וואלה! בחירות 2022 |url=https://elections.walla.co.il/item/3526059 |access-date=25 December 2022 |website=וואלה! |language=he}} He represented Meretz in the Knesset until the party failed to pass the electoral threshold in the 2022 legislative elections.{{Cite web |title=Meretz officially out of Knesset for first time since party is formed |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-721398 |access-date=11 December 2022 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |date=3 November 2022 |language=en-US}} On 26 February 2024, Golan announced he is prepared to take part in the Labor primary election on 28 May. He stated that his mission will be to "lead the Labor Party and lead to the unification of the liberal-democratic camp".{{Cite web |last=האוזר טוב |first=מיכאל |title=יאיר גולן מתכוון להתמודד על ראשות מפלגת העבודה |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politi/2024-02-26/ty-article/0000018d-e719-d1e0-a1dd-f7fda1a30000}} On 28 May 2024, he won the Labor party primary election with 95% of the vote.{{cite web |last1=Sokol |first1=Sam |title=Yair Golan wins landslide victory in Labor primary with promise to unite the left|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/yair-golan-wins-landslide-victory-in-labor-primary-with-promise-to-unite-the-left/ |publisher=The Times of Israel |access-date=19 February 2025|date=28 May 2024}}

On 30 June 2024, Labor and Meretz announced an agreement to form a new party, The Democrats.{{cite news |title=Meretz, Labor Party sign agreement to merge parties under new party name 'The Democrats' |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-808400 |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=Jerusalem Post |date=30 June 2024}} The agreement, which designates Golan leader of the new party, was approved by both parties' congresses on 12 July 2024.{{cite news |title=העבודה ומרצ הגיעו להסכם על איחוד וייקראו מפלגת "הדמוקרטים" |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politi/2024-06-30/ty-article/00000190-69f4-d01f-abbe-7dfc89b40000 |access-date=30 June 2024 |work=Haaretz |date=30 June 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-810075|title=With an overwhelming majority, Meretz and Labor approve merge, becoming the Democrats|date=12 July 2024|accessdate=19 February 2025|work=The Jerusalem Post|last1=Shalev|first1=Tal}}

As Deputy Chief of Staff, Golan made a speech on Holocaust Day in 2016 in which some say he drew a parallel between Europe in general and Germany in particular in the 1930s and current day Israel, by saying "If there is one thing that is scary in remembering the Holocaust, it is noticing horrific processes which developed in Europe – particularly in Germany – 70, 80, and 90 years ago, and finding remnants of that here (in Israel) among us in the year 2016." He said that sometimes Israeli soldiers were harsh in dealing with Palestinians, and he highlighted the example of Sergeant Elor Azaria being tried over a Hebron shooting incident as evidence that the IDF investigates itself and has high moral standards.{{Cite web |last=Piggott |first=Mark |date=5 May 2016 |title=Top IDF officer Yair Golan compares modern Israel to 1930s Germany in bombshell speech |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/top-idf-officer-yair-golan-compares-modern-israel-1930s-germany-bombshell-speech-1558301 |website=International Business Times}} His comments drew significant criticism on social media, with Twitter users accusing Golan of "forgetting the lessons of the Holocaust."{{Cite web |date=4 May 2016 |title=IDF general in bombshell speech: Israel today shows signs of 1930s Germany |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/IDF-general-in-bombshell-speech-Israel-today-shows-signs-of-1930s-Germany-453142 |website=The Jerusalem Post}} Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the comments "outrageous" and said they "do injustice to Israeli society and create contempt for the Holocaust." Culture Minister Miri Regev called for his resignation, while opposition leader Isaac Herzog praised Golan for exhibiting "morality and responsibility."{{Cite web |date=8 May 2016 |title=Netanyahu upbraids top general for 'outrageous' Shoah comparison |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-upbraids-idf-general-for-outrageous-shoah-comparison/ |website=The Times of Israel}}

Later, Golan retracted and said that he did not intend to compare Israel to Nazi Germany, releasing a statement in which he said: "It is an absurd and baseless comparison and I had no intention whatsoever to draw any sort of parallel or to criticize the national leadership. The IDF is a moral army that respects the rules of engagement and protects human dignity."{{Cite web |last=Beaumont |first=Peter |date=5 May 2016 |title=Israeli military chief backtracks from 1930s Germany comparison |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/05/israeli-military-chief-yair-golan-nazi-germany-comparison |website=The Guardian}} In 2022, Golan stated that this incident is the reason he did not become Chief of Staff of the IDF, although he still agrees with his statements.

Homesh was an Israeli settlement that was evicted in the 2005 disengagement, but since then had constant illegal attempts to resettle it, and is a source of protest and violence in the West Bank.{{Cite web |last=סלע |first=קובי |date=11 April 2007 |title=מטות הימין: צעדה לחומש ביום העצמאות |url=https://www.inn.co.il/news/161343 |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=ערוץ 7 |language=he}}{{Cite news |last=Weiss |first=Efrat |date=27 April 2007 |title=Settlers return to Homesh after evacuation |language=en |work=Ynetnews |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3392829,00.html |access-date=16 December 2022}}{{Cite news |title=Yearning to Return Home to Homesh |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2008-08-07/ty-article/yearning-to-return-home-to-homesh/0000017f-e384-d568-ad7f-f3efd7310000 |access-date=16 December 2022}} On 16 December 2021, Yehudah Dimentman, a resident of the nearby settlement, Shavei Shomron who was a student at the Homesh outpost yeshiva, was killed by a Palestinian shooter.{{Cite web |last=staff |first=T. O. I. |title='A huge loss': Yehuda Dimentman, 25, named as victim of West Bank terror shooting |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-huge-loss-yehudah-dimentman-25-named-as-victim-of-west-bank-terror-shooting/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=Times of Israel |language=en-US}} In response to the attack, Homesh settlers attacked a man from the village of Burqa, damaged houses and desecrated graves.{{Cite web |title=Israeli settlers attack village in occupied West Bank |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/24/israeli-settlers-attack-village-in-occupied-west-bank |access-date=16 December 2022 |publisher=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=הפלסטינים בכפרים שליד חומש משלמים את המחיר על רצח יהודה דימנטמן |language=he |work=הארץ |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2022-01-06/ty-article-magazine/.premium/0000017f-f56e-ddde-abff-fd6f08290000 |access-date=16 December 2022}} Golan said that: "Those people who come to settle there, riot in Burqa, destroy gravestones, committed a pogrom. Do we abuse gravestones? These are not people, these are subhumans, despicable people, the corruption of the Jewish people."{{Cite web |title=Israeli official sparks firestorm by calling settlers 'despicable,' 'subhuman' {{!}} |url=https://thearabweekly.com/israeli-official-sparks-firestorm-calling-settlers-despicable-subhuman |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=AW |language=en}} The use of the phrase "subhuman" provoked a lot of criticism,{{Cite web |title=i24NEWS |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/politics/1641468071-israel-minister-blasted-for-referring-to-settlers-as-subhuman |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=www.i24news.tv}}{{Cite web |title="אלה תתי אדם": גולן שוב מעורר סערת ענק וחוטף אש מבנט וחבריו לממשלה |url=https://www.maariv.co.il/news/politics/Article-889585 |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=Maariv|date=6 January 2022 }} and Golan said it was an "unsuccessful expression".{{Cite web |last=staff |first=T. O. I. |title=Deputy minister says he regrets 'subhuman' settlers comment, but stands by criticism |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/deputy-minister-say-he-regrets-subhuman-settlers-comment-but-stands-by-criticism/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=יאיר גולן מתנצל: "אולי זו הייתה אמירה מוגזמת" |url=https://www.srugim.co.il/635136-%d7%99%d7%90%d7%99%d7%a8-%d7%92%d7%95%d7%9c%d7%9f-%d7%9e%d7%aa%d7%a0%d7%a6%d7%9c-%d7%90%d7%95%d7%9c%d7%99-%d7%96%d7%95-%d7%94%d7%99%d7%99%d7%aa%d7%94-%d7%90%d7%9e%d7%99%d7%a8%d7%94-%d7%9e%d7%95 |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=סרוגים |language=he}}{{Cite web |date=6 January 2022 |title=N12 - יאיר גולן: "האמירה שלי לא מוצלחת ונאמרה בכעס" |url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-politics/2022_q1/Article-9cfab9d9a903e71027.htm |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=N12}} In 2023, as a response to the Huwara rampage, Golan wrote on Twitter "They used to get angry with me when I said these people were subhuman. Today they are angry that I didn't say more."{{Cite web |last=Golan |first=Yair |title=יאיר גולן על האירוע בחווארה |url=https://twitter.com/YairGolan1/status/1630141542294798337 |access-date=27 February 2023 |publisher=Twitter |language=he}}{{bsn|date=February 2025}}

On 18 October 2007, the IDF Chief of Staff initiated a disciplinary proceeding against then Brig. Gen. (Tat Aluf) Yair Golan, after a Military Police investigation into several cases where Golan used the "prior warning" procedure, which allowed IDF soldiers to use a relative or neighbor of a wanted person and force them to enter their house and ask them to turn themselves in. This procedure was outlawed by the Supreme Court in 2006, a decision that was also adopted by the IDF.{{Cite web|url=https://www.btselem.org/human_shields/20071024_yair_golan_reprimanded_by_chief_of_staff|title=Chief of Staff censures Brig.-Gen. Yair Golan for ordering use of human shields|website=B'Tselem}}{{Cite news |last=וייס |first=חנן גרינברג ואפרת |date=18 October 2007 |title=נזיפה למפקד איו"ש לשעבר בשל "נוהל שכן" |language=he |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3461528,00.html |access-date=30 December 2022}} In an interview on 31 July 2022, Golan stated: "The way I used the procedure reduced the danger posed on the IDF soldiers drastically, and I avoided confrontations that could've ended in the death of many Palestinians."{{Citation |title=יאיר גולן: גאה שהפרתי פסיקת בגצ |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4t4ZYMLmtg |language=en |access-date=30 December 2022}}

Golan defines himself as a leftist Zionist. When asked what event made Golan consider joining the Israeli political life, He said "in the 2015–2016 wave of violence and terror I see many cases where soldiers, regarding incidents... that are not dramatic incidents... incidents I've encountered a lot during my service, and they shoot. They shoot and kill. And I ask to be provided with all the investigations of every case where a Palestinian was killed, and I see event after event after event, where you say: Wait, this is not how a warrior behaves! And all this accumulation leads me to the feeling that something deep is amiss with us, firstly, it's distorted in the Israeli leadership, and after that, it distorts our perception within Israeli society. And this process of radicalization, of an inability to look at the other side and see even the enemy — as a human being, it's dangerous and destructive, and by the way, also harmful to the soldiers.{{Citation |title="צה"ל הוא צבא כיבוש": יאיר גולן חוזר לתהליכים שהובילו אותו לפוליטיקה |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPNdPMAoC4Y |language=en |access-date=25 December 2022}}

Golan has stated that he will fight against "corruption, the annexation of the West Bank, homophobia, and gender segregation".{{Cite web |last=Golan |first=Yair |title=נילחם. נתחדש. יחד נבנה מרצ גדולה. |url=https://twitter.com/yairgolan1/status/1559185454532001792 |access-date=25 December 2022 |publisher=Twitter |language=en}}{{bsn|date=February 2025}} On climate activism, Golan tweeted "Israel's influence on the climate crisis is negligible. The preoccupation with the climate in Israel should be in the preparation of infrastructure for extreme heat waves and the protection of our nature reserves. Talking about climate as if Israel is a power, is talking in slogans instead of doing actions that directly affect the Israeli citizen."{{Cite web |last=Golan |first=Yair |title=ההשפעה של ישראל על משבר האקלים זניחה. |url=https://twitter.com/yairgolan1/status/1553705768494538752 |access-date=25 December 2022 |publisher=Twitter |language=en}}{{bsn|date=February 2025}} Golan has called on numerous occasions for the Israeli public to start "non-violent civil disobedience" (מרי אזרחי) in response to the 2023 Israeli judicial reform and the formation of the Thirty-seventh government of Israel. {{Cite web |last=Golan |first=Yair |title=תם עידן המחאה. חייב להתחיל עידן המרי האזרחי. |url=https://twitter.com/YairGolan1/status/1623286108309057536 |access-date=8 February 2023 |publisher=Twitter |language=en}}{{bsn|date=February 2025}}{{Cite web |last=moshem |date=10 January 2023 |title="אנחנו הריבון": הח"כ וסגן השר לשעבר יאיר גולן קורא למרי אזרחי |url=https://www.makorrishon.co.il/news/564177/ |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=מקור ראשון |language=he-IL}}{{Cite web |title=יאיר גולן: "נגד ממשלת הזדון והרשע יש רק דרך אחת – מרי אזרחי" {{!}} חדשות 13 |url=https://13tv.co.il/item/news/politics/politics/yair-golan-903388343/ |access-date=8 February 2023 |publisher=רשת 13 |language=he}}

Golan supports a two-state solution based on land swaps and the keeping of most settlement blocs. In a 2022 Interview to Kan 11 Golan said "We need to return to the base. To go back to (the way of) Ben-Gurion, Rabin, Begin and Sharon. We need to separate. We need to say: Yes, we would've liked all of Eretz Israel, as it's the land of our ancestors, but we have no choice. In order to preserve the integrity of the nation, we must give up on the unity of the land. I don't see any other chance for the State of Israel."

Golan supports economic incentives in order to stabilize the hostilities in Gaza and to use military force if needed. As of August 2022, Golan was still supporting the 2005 Israeli Disengagement from Gaza, saying "I believe that, no, we have nothing to find there. It's a crazy idea in my eyes, the establishment of a bloc of Jewish settlements between Khan Yunis and the sea is a dreadful and terrible thing". Although there are conflicting statements, Golan stated in August 2022 that the IDF is an "occupying military" but believes it is justified until peace is achieved. He has made statements against the BDS movement, saying that he believes it has anti-Semitic overtones, and that Israel has to "fight it to the bitter end".{{Cite web |date=30 July 2021 |title=מפתיע • יאיר גולן נגד המילה 'כיבוש': "כור מחצבתנו הוא שטחי יהודה ושומרון" - חדשות JDN |url=https://archive.jdn.co.il/news/1577141/ |access-date=25 December 2022 |website=JDN - חדשות, המגזר החרדי, כלכלה, דעות - עדכונים שוטפים מהארץ ומהעולם |language=he-IL}}

Golan believes in complete separation of state and religion including the end of the "marriage monopoly" in Israel, allowing LGBTQ+ marriage and public transportation on Shabbat.{{Cite web |title=ייאוש הוא לא תוכנית עבודה: חייבים לבנות את השמאל הציוני מחדש {{!}} יאיר גולן |url=https://www.maariv.co.il/journalists/opinions/Article-960953 |access-date=25 December 2022 |website=Maariv|date=25 November 2022 }} In several interviews and statements, Golan heavily criticized the lack of secular education in Haredi schools.{{Cite web |last=Golan |first=Yair |title=כך נראה חוסר משילות. |url=https://twitter.com/yairgolan1/status/1582258798047408130 |access-date=25 December 2022 |publisher=Twitter |language=en}}{{bsn|date=February 2025}}

Golan stated that he believes in "An economy that creates equal opportunities, that allows every young man and woman an open horizon thanks to proper education and proper infrastructure in the center and the periphery."

Golan is married to Ruthie, he is a father to five children and resides in Rosh HaAyin.{{Cite web |title=אנשים {{!}} הווידוי של יאיר גולן {{!}} לצפייה ישירה |url=https://www.mako.co.il/mako-vod-keshet/people-2023/VOD-36b52a4c3f17981027.htm |access-date=18 April 2024 |website=12+}} Golan holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Tel Aviv University, and a master's degree in public administration policy from Harvard University in the United States (joint program of the Wexner Foundation and the Kennedy School of Government).{{Cite web |title=יאיר גולן |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/category/39094 |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=ynet |language=he}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{commons-inline}}
• {{MKlink|id=1027}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-off}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Merav Michaeli}}

{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the Israeli Labor Party|years=28 May 2024–present}}

{{s-inc}}

{{s-bef|before=none}}

{{s-ttl|title=Designated Leader of The Democrats|years=30 June 2024–present}}

{{s-inc}}

{{s-end}}

{{Deputy Chiefs of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces}}

{{IsraelNorthernCommandChiefs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Golan, Yair}}

Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century Israeli military personnel

Category:21st-century Israeli military personnel

Category:Israeli generals

Category:Israeli people of German-Jewish descent

Category:Jewish Israeli politicians

Category:Jewish military personnel

Category:Members of the 22nd Knesset (2019–2020)

Category:Members of the 23rd Knesset (2020–2021)

Category:Members of the 24th Knesset (2021–2022)

Category:Meretz politicians

Category:Israeli Labor Party leaders

Category:The Democrats (Israel) politicians

Category:People from Rishon LeZion

Category:Israeli people of the Israel–Hamas war

Category:Tel Aviv University alumni

Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni