Golan rules out unity government with Netanyahu, warns of new Iran war by caretaker government

Democrats chairman Yair Golan warned on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could lead Israel into another war with Iran to ensure his political survival rather than protect the country's security interests, in an interview with 103FM.

Golan also addressed Thursday's security briefing between Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, expressing confidence that the meeting would not pave the way for a national-unity government.

"I am convinced that Gadi learned the historical lesson from his experience with Benny Gantz. He understands that you cannot do business with Netanyahu. I don't know what the purpose of this meeting was, but I cannot imagine any government headed by Netanyahu, if we're being honest. It seems completely unimaginable to me. I remind you that Netanyahu cannot serve as a minister."

Golan also dismissed the possibility of alternative political arrangements that would allow Netanyahu to remain in government.

"There is no feasible basis for that, and in any case, I ask why we should even discuss this seriously?" he wondered. "All of Netanyahu's partners are responsible for the worst disasters that have befallen Israel over the past four years."

He argued, however, that an alternative coalition was within reach, particularly if the opposition could secure support from Arab parties or bring a haredi (ultra-Orthodox) party into the government.

"If we manage to secure the support of the Arab parties, and certainly if even one haredi party joins the coalition, there is no doubt that we have a stable and solid majority. I remind all our listeners: Netanyahu's bloc received only 53 seats. That is the voters' mandate, and that is what the Israeli electorate wants," he said.

"This will be a super-stable government, and if we manage to chip away further at Netanyahu's bloc, all the better."

Golan urged his political allies to move quickly to form a government, warning that failure to do so could have serious consequences.

"We need to form a government, and quickly. If not, history will judge us for failing to prevent another war when the person conducting it is interested not in Israel's security interests, but solely in his own personal interests."

Golan warns of renewed Iran war as 'drums of war' sound again

Turning to the prospect of another confrontation with Iran, Golan questioned whether military action was necessary and suggested that Netanyahu's political considerations could be influencing national security decisions.

"What I mainly hear is the drums of war sounding again in light of the possibility of a renewed campaign against Iran, and a major statement needs to be made regarding the necessity, the political conduct, and the prime minister's personal conduct," he said.

"Based on the statements of the IDF chief of staff and the commander of the Israel Air Force, I understand that there is no urgent need, nothing that has to be done in an hour, a day, or two days."

Golan argued that the current government was effectively a caretaker government, which "must not take the State of Israel into war."

Instead, he called for a new government to be formed before any decision on another military campaign.

"First of all, we need to establish a new government, and then decide whether the overriding security interest is to launch a campaign now or not," he explained.

He also questioned Netanyahu's credibility given his previous declarations of military success.

"Someone who took us into two military campaigns and declared a historic victory at the end of them cannot convince us a third time."

Golan went further, accusing Netanyahu of allowing his political survival to influence decisions that could expose Israelis to another round of missile attacks.

"This is simply political survival, and I say this with grave concern and deep anxiety," he said.

"Are we going to put Israeli citizens back under a regime of missile fire and sirens, with the risk to human life? Think about something very simple: Is it right for the State of Israel to enter a war against the Iranians, including exchanges of missile fire, when it is not at all clear whether it is necessary? There are enormous disagreements between the IDF chief of staff and the prime minister."

Golan: Netanyahu ‘misled the State of Israel twice’

Golan insisted that his concerns were rooted in national security rather than political opposition to Netanyahu.

"We must not allow the man who misled the State of Israel twice to continue leading us. Does it seem logical to you that someone who declared a historic victory in June 2025, and declared in April 2026 that we had set back the terrorist regime in Iran by years, should be allowed to lead us into another military campaign?"

He concluded by arguing that a coalition of opposition leaders would be better equipped to lead the country.

"The combination of Eisenkot, Bennett, Liberman, and myself, we will know how to lead the State of Israel much better."

Referring to Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, Golan added: "This pair has failed enough for us to tell them: Go home."