Chairman of the Democratic Party, Yair Golan, sparked fierce backlash this week after making incendiary remarks that appeared to accuse Israel of deliberately harming children. Despite criticism from across the political spectrum, Golan has refused to apologize, insisting that his comments were directed solely at the government, not the IDF.
Speaking in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet, Golan stated: “A sane state does not kill babies for fun. Israel is on its way to becoming a pariah state among nations, like apartheid South Africa, if it does not return to being sane.”
Following public outcry, including accusations that he had slandered Israeli soldiers, Golan clarified: “I said this morning that we are a sane state that does not kill children. When ministers in this government celebrate the death and starvation of children, we must say this. I was referring only to the most failed government in Israel's history—not the IDF.”
He added: “The IDF is my home and it is my heart. Neither Smotrich nor Ben Gvir, who evade responsibilities, and certainly not Netanyahu, will teach me what combat ethics are. Anyone who truly cherishes the IDF must stand courageously against this dangerous government.”
Golan further escalated his rhetoric, accusing the government of mirroring Hamas: “A government that says it is possible to abandon hostages and that children should be starved is a government that sounds like a Hamas spokesperson. A government that talks about an atomic bomb in Gaza is not a Jewish government, and it certainly is not Zionist.”
He also condemned government ministers, saying: “This government is full of vengeful types lacking understanding and ethics, without the capacity to manage a state in an emergency. This is dangerous to our very existence.”
Despite the controversy, Golan remained steadfast, stating: “The intention of my words was clear: this war is the realization of the fantasies of Ben Gvir and Smotrich. If we allow them to realize these fantasies, we will become a pariah state.”
He concluded by reaffirming his stance: “IDF fighters are heroes, government ministers are corrupt. The IDF is ethical, the people are straight, the government is crooked. The war needs to end, we need to bring back the hostages and restore Israel.”
Golan’s remarks have drawn strong condemnation from members of the coalition, with calls for him to retract his statements and issue an apology to IDF soldiers and their families. Golan, however, has stood firm, maintaining that his criticism targets the government’s policies and not the military.
