Yair Golan says hecklers ‘know nothing but hate’ as protests drown out speech

Democrats party leader Yair Golan is heckled and booed by protesters during a speech at a conference in Beersheba, prompting him to tell the crowd that they “know nothing but hate.”

“At my advanced age, I went to save people from the Nova party. I risked my life while you sat at home in safety,” he yells at the crowd, who attempt to drown out his speech with jeers, whistles, sirens and other noisemakers.

אחרי שכינו אותו ׳בוגד׳ יאיר גולן פתח במתקפה על המשתתפים בכנס שדרות:

אין בכם כלום חוץ משנאה, אתם לא יודעים כלום חוץ משנאה

בגילי המתקדם יצאתי למסיבת הנובה לסכן את חיי בזמן שישבתם בבית

אתם מפרקים את מדינת ישראל pic.twitter.com/fiyIv6tg41

— מיכאל שמש Michael Shemesh (@shemeshmicha) May 27, 2025

“Shame on you,” he repeats over the din. “You are dismantling the state, at a conference whose purpose [is to discuss] how to rebuild what you haven’t yet taken apart.”

“It’s because of people like you that [former prime minister Yitzhak] Rabin was murdered,” he says. “If you had the courage, you would listen, but you are afraid, distrustful, and that causes you hate that leads to violence. You won’t make me hate because I am a courageous person… I dare to love you.”

Protesters are also seen on video shouting “traitor” at the former general.

יאיר גולן הגיע לשדרות!
מה אומרים, ערוצי התרעלה ידווחו על הקריאות מהקהל? pic.twitter.com/JrX8NMvtXo

— Igal Malka – ???????????????????????? (@igal_malka) May 27, 2025

According to the Walla news site, protesters at the conference, organized by the Kaye Academic College of Education, also attempted to block Democrats MK Naama Lazimi from entering, telling her to “go to Gaza.”

Golan, leader of the left’s flagship party, has become the locus of right-wing protests since saying last week that Israeli soldiers were killing babies in Gaza “as a hobby,” comments he later walked back.