Yair Golan: "Eliminate Khamenei the father? Unequivocally – a mistake"

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, said at a "Shishi Tarbut" event in Rishon LeZion that eliminating Iran's Supreme Leader, Khamenei the father, would be a mistake that does not serve Israel's interests. Golan attacked Netanyahu for perpetuating Hamas rule in Gaza, called the refusal to build a governing alternative "a crime against the IDF," and referred to the conscription of Haredim as funding "organized idleness."

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, was a guest at a "Shishi Tarbut" event in Rishon LeZion and addressed several security and policy issues. Golan was asked about the possibility of an attack on Iran and said he does not trust Netanyahu, but assessed that his freedom of action is limited. In response to a question about eliminating Khamenei the father, Iran's Supreme Leader, Golan said: "Unequivocally, it's a mistake to eliminate Khamenei the father, not because he doesn't deserve to die, but because it does not serve the interests of the State of Israel." Golan harshly attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the issue of Hamas rule in Gaza: "Netanyahu himself perpetuates Hamas rule in Gaza through his ongoing refusal to build a governing alternative to Hamas... this is simply a crime against the IDF, against the citizens of Israel, against IDF soldiers." On the issue of Haredi conscription into the IDF, Golan said: "We, from our funds, from our taxes, the productive public, we are funding this organized idleness. Unbearable." Golan also addressed the return of the hostages, saying his party freed them and did not give up until the last one returned. The event took place as part of a series of meetings ahead of the 2026 elections.