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The Democrats

MKs Avigdor Liberman (front right) and Gadi Eisenkot (bottom left) in the Knesset, September 9, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 7, 2026, 5:03 pm
Amid speculation of merger, Eisenkot and Liberman say they’re ‘deepening cooperation’
Yashar and Yisrael Beytenu party heads hold meeting; Yair Golan urges Eisenkot to join either with his Democrats or Bennett and Lapid’s Together party
By Sam Sokol
The Democrats chairman Yair Golan speaks in a video statement published May 5, 2026. (Screen capture: X/Yair Golan)
May 5, 2026, 8:21 pm
Golan: Zionist opposition must partner with Arab party Ra’am to topple government
The Democrats chief says public embrace of MK Mansour Abbas is ‘appropriate Zionist response’ after Smotrich said Arabs’ inclusion in last government was worse than Oct. 7 debacle
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
(Clockwise from top left): The Democrats chief Yair Golan, Yesh Atid chief and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, Blue and White chief Benny Gantz and Yisrael Beytenu chief Avigdor Liberman hold a joint press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 6, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
February 28, 2026, 10:17 pm
Israeli opposition leaders rally behind government as Israel and US strike Iran
‘We are all united on the operation,’ declares Lapid; Arab-majority Hadash party calls Israel ‘full partner’ in ‘global American imperialism,’ slams opposition for backing attack
By Sam Sokol
Head of the Yesh Atid party MK Yair Lapid leads a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on February 16, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
February 16, 2026, 7:44 pm
Lapid warns ‘liberal bloc’ may lose next election if it doesn’t unite – behind him
‘If we don’t come to our senses, we will lose,’ opposition leader says, argues his party is best situated to lead; prominent anti-government activist joins Golan’s The Democrats
By Sam Sokol and Ariela Karmel
The Democrats chairman Yair Golan (center, standing) holds a press conference in Tel Aviv to present the party’s new members, January 6, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
January 6, 2026, 11:04 pm
Anti-government protest leaders, brother of murdered hostage join Democrats party
Welcoming Moshe Radman, Ami Dror, Danny Elgarat and others who led movements against judicial overhaul and for hostage release, faction chief Yair Golan calls on more to join left-wing faction
By Ariela Karmel
Head of the Democrats party Yair Golan at a conference in Jerusalem on November 17, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
November 30, 2025, 6:03 am
A defiant Yair Golan says he can lead the left out of oblivion by redrawing the map
Uniting Labor and Meretz, The Democrats head claims he can attract voters without pandering; argues that ideology is less important than bread-and-butter issues like affordability
By Ariela Karmel
Yair Netanyahu arrives for a court hearing in Tel Aviv, on November 29, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/ Flash90/ File)
October 30, 2025, 5:37 am
Likud taps Yair Netanyahu for senior WZO role, risking compromise deal on appointments
Minister from ruling party defends nomination of PM’s son for cushy gig, asserting Yair ‘merely wants to promote Zionist advocacy in the Diaspora,’ as Yesh Atid and The Democrats decry ‘despicable’ move
By ToI Staff and Zev Stub
(Clockwise from top left): The Democrats chief Yair Golan, Yesh Atid chief and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, Blue and White chief Benny Gantz and Yisrael Beytenu chief Avigdor Liberman hold a joint press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 6, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 21, 2025, 12:30 am
Opposition chiefs form ‘permanent forum’ to work on ousting PM; Bennett, Gantz stay away
Lapid, Liberman, Golan, Eisenkot to meet again next month on ways to defeat Netanyahu, expect Bennett, Gantz to join them; aim to set up team to draw up ‘guidelines of next government’
By Sam Sokol
MK Naama Lazimi speaks during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, near the Knesset in Jerusalem, March 31, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 7, 2025, 2:52 pm
The practical peacenik: Naama Lazimi’s battle for Israel’s soul
In a political landscape where she feels increasingly alone, left-wing lawmaker insists peace, democracy and Zionism can still coexist, despite opposition from the right and her own camp
By Ariela Karmel
Benny Gantz and other National Union MKs visit the city of Tamra on June 16, 2025, after it was hit in a Iranian missile strike. (Courtesy National Unity)
June 17, 2025, 6:19 pm
Opposition MKs visit Arab town where four residents were killed by Iranian missile
Benny Gantz says attacks don’t distinguish between Jewish and Arab towns; Yair Golan expresses solidarity with residents; Gilad Kariv pledges to build better reality for all Israelis
By Sam Sokol and Michael Horovitz
The Democrats party chairman Yair Golan is interviewed on Channel 12, May 24, 2025. (Channel 12)
May 25, 2025, 5:05 am
After controversy, Yair Golan says Israel ‘certainly does not’ kill Gaza babies ‘as a hobby’
After backlash, left-wing leader says he was expressing his fear that extremist government members would like to do so; ‘Is this the Israel we want? I genuinely ask myself that’
By ToI Staff
The Democrats party chairman Yair Golan holds a press conference in Tel Aviv, May 20, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
May 20, 2025, 9:24 pm
Golan defends ‘killing babies’ comment, says it was directed at ‘failed’ government
Amid condemnation, left-wing leader, a former deputy IDF chief, says he supports soldiers and his words are meant for government that ‘sounds like Hamas’ when talking about starving children
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Leader of The Democrats party Yair Golan heads a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, May 19, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
May 20, 2025, 2:15 pm
Outrage as opposition party leader Golan says Israel ‘killing babies as a hobby’ in Gaza
Ex-general says Israel becoming ‘pariah state’; PM accuses him of ‘antisemitic blood libel’; IDF chief condemns comment casting doubt on soldiers’ morality; Lapid: ‘Gift to our enemies’
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
(Clockwise from top left): The Democrats chief Yair Golan, Yesh Atid chief and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, Blue and White chief Benny Gantz and Yisrael Beytenu chief Avigdor Liberman hold a joint press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 6, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 20, 2025, 3:32 am
Liberman urges opposition parties to draft own version of Haredi enlistment bill
Lapid says ‘Zionist parties’ will meet next week to discuss the issue; Golan says he is on board; former PM Bennett also invited to join effort, but hasn’t yet responded
By Sam Sokol
Noam Dan, a relative of freed hostage Ofer Calderon, speaks to protesters outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence in Jerusalem on April 17, 2025. (Charlie Summers/Times of Israel)
April 17, 2025, 11:17 pm
Protesters in Jerusalem demand deal to free hostages, end ‘Netanyahu’s war’
Democrats party head vows to fight government ‘with all the power at our disposal’; ex-captive’s relative says PM will stand trial for ‘traitorous deeds’
By Charlie Summers and ToI Staff
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