Yair Golan says he and his son received death threats: ‘This incitement is organized from the top’

By Ariela Karmel

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12 January 2026, 4:52 pm

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Ariela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.

The Democrats leader Yair Golan displays a death threat that he said was sent to him and his son, during a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, January 12, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Democrats party chair Yair Golan shares with reporters at the Knesset a screenshot of death threats he received yesterday, directed at him and his son from a “right-wing activist.”

“Tell your son that Yigal Amir’s biggest fan has his eye on him,” reads the message sent to Golan, referring to the Jewish extremist who assassinated prime minister Yitzhak Rabin.

“He should start looking over his shoulder, and so should you. Traitors must die. You and your son first,” the message continues.

Golan took the helm of the Labor party in 2024 before merging it with the left-wing party Meretz to form the Democrats.

“This incitement is organized from the top — from Netanyahu’s people and his mouthpieces. It trickles down,” says Golan, speaking to the press ahead of his party’s faction meeting at the Knesset.

“I want to say from here to all the inciters and those who issue threats: you won’t frighten us, and you won’t stop us. We will continue to struggle and to fight for the country,” he adds.