Yair Golan

$Ehud Barak, head of the Israel Democratic Party speaks during an election campaign event in Tel Aviv on July 17, 2019. (Hadas Parush\Flash90)$

Reporter's notebook

Raoul Wootliff

In the dark shadow of Epstein ties, Barak wages an underdog fight

At campaign launch event, Israel Democratic Party leader goes on the offensive like a guerrilla warrior leading a unlikely coup. It may be his only choice

$Ehud Barak, head of the Israel Democratic Party speaks during an election campaign event in Tel Aviv on July 17, 2019. (Hadas Parush\Flash90)$

July 18, 2019, 1:53 pm

In the dark shadow of Epstein ties, Barak wages an underdog fight

At campaign launch event, Israel Democratic Party leader goes on the offensive like a guerrilla warrior leading a unlikely coup. It may be his only choice

By Raoul Wootliff

Former prime minister Ehud Barak (L) shakes hands with Yair Golan after announcing the formation of a new party at Tel Aviv's Beit Sokolov on June 26, 2019. (Jacob Magid/Times of Israel)

July 9, 2019, 2:15 pm

Barak says ex-general ‘told the truth’ when he likened Israel to pre-war Germany

Former PM steps into potential minefield by backing comments by member of his party Yair Golan comparing trends in Israeli society to conditions that gave rise to Nazism

By Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) with Likud MK Miki Zohar at a Likud faction meeting in the Knesset on February 26, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 5, 2019, 2:44 pm

Netanyahu ally: There won’t be 3rd elections if PM again fails to form coalition

Miki Zohar says Blue and White’s Gantz would get a crack at assembling a government if Likud unable to do so after September polls, didn’t believe Knesset would really dissolve

By TOI staff

Former Labor party candidate Yair Fink (R) with former prime minister Ehud Barak, June 30, 2019. (Courtesy)

June 30, 2019, 5:35 pm

First Labor candidate defects to Ehud Barak’s new rival party

Renouncing place on beleaguered slate, Yair Fink says Israel ‘in need of real leadership’ that can mount a credible challenge to Netanyahu

By Raoul Wootliff

Yair Golan speaks during a press conference announcing the establishment of a new political party led by former prime minister Ehud Barak in Tel Aviv, June 26, 2019 (Flash90)

June 27, 2019, 1:43 pm

After joining Barak’s new party, Golan says he’s on the left, but not a leftist

Former IDF deputy chief of staff says he believes in West Bank pullout, though some settlements will be part of Israel

By TOI staff

Former prime minister Ehud Barak at a press conference announcing his return to politics ahead of national elections in September, Tel Aviv, June 26, 2019. (Jack Guez/AFP)

June 27, 2019, 10:34 am

Left-wing lawmakers cautiously hail Barak’s comeback, right blasts his record

Shaked asks if former PM thinks Israelis have forgotten his ‘botched term,’ while Shaffir says his new party marks a return to ‘courageous’ politics

By Jacob Magid

Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak announces the formation of a new party, at Tel Aviv's Beit Sokolov on June 26, 2019. (Jacob Magid/Times of Israel)

June 26, 2019, 8:24 pm

Declaring Netanyahu’s time is up, Ehud Barak announces formation of new party

Former PM pans Blue and White leadership for lack of passion needed to convince voters in the last campaign, says size of blocs, not of individual parties, will determine winner

By Jacob Magid

Ehud Barak in Tel Aviv on April 3, 2019 (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

June 24, 2019, 12:45 am

Ehud Barak said looking to partner with ex-general Yair Golan to form new party

Former PM and deputy chief of staff trying to recruit a team of veteran politicians, including Tzipi Livni, to run together in September 17 elections

By TOI staff

Ehud Barak in Tel Aviv, on April 3, 2019. It is not the first time Barak, 77, has considered a political comeback. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

June 21, 2019, 10:22 pm

Ehud Barak confirms looking at new party ahead of elections, denies Labor return

Former PM says the center-left has to unite in one bloc to defeat Netanyahu, won’t say whether he’d insist on leading it

By TOI staff

June 16, 2019, 3:03 am

Report: Barak meets former deputy IDF chief as he mulls new party

Former prime minister once again said to be looking at prospect of reentering politics with new slate, would seek to form bloc with Labor

By TOI staff

Labor MK Stav Shaffir speaks at the Knesset in Jerusalem on May 29, 2019 (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

June 7, 2019, 7:05 pm

Labor’s Stav Shaffir announces leadership bid in next month’s primary

MK says it’s time to ‘start anew’ with a party that can ‘truly fight for an Israel that is democratic, open, equal and just’

By TOI staff

Avi Gabbay (C), leader of the Labor Party with party members and MKs after the results of party primaries are announced in Tel Aviv on February 11, 2019 (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

June 7, 2019, 12:19 am

Labor moves toward finalizing leadership primary, in blow to Barak and Peretz

Motion advanced by former party leaders to have Labor committee appoint the next chairman is shelved; insiders will also debate whether slate remains unchanged

By Marissa Newman and TOI staff

Former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan speaks at the ISDEF Defense & HLS Expo in Herzliya on March 26, 2019. (Ronen Topelberg)

June 4, 2019, 4:09 am

Second former top general could join race to lead embattled Labor party

Before retiring from the IDF, former deputy chief of staff Yair Golan stirred controversy comparing trends in Israel to those in pre-World War II Germany

By TOI staff

Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Yair Golan in August 2015. (Gefen Reznik/IDF Spokesperson)

November 26, 2018, 10:07 am

IDF chief reprimands former deputy for slamming Bennett – report

Ministers also censure outgoing general Yair Golan, who said the education minister was ‘weakening’ the state by attacking the military

By TOI staff

November 25, 2018, 4:33 pm

Cabinet said to slam senior IDF officer for public criticism of Bennett

Ministers reportedly berate former deputy chief of staff Yair Golan after he says education minister ‘weakens the army and State of Israel’

By TOI staff