Yair Golan

Asked on Channel 12 about a possible strike on Iran, he said hitting its nuclear and other infrastructure hard might be the right thing to do, led by the Americans and followed by a diplomatic agreement.

“It may be that the right thing to do really is to act against Iranian targets and hit nuclear and other infrastructure hard, but even if that happens, the Americans will lead such a move and it must be followed by a diplomatic continuation.”

In Hebrew: יכול להיות שהדבר הנכון באמת לעשות הוא לפעול מול מטרות איראניות, ולפגוע קשות בתשתיות גרעין ואחרות, אבל גם אם זה יקרה, האמריקנים יובילו מהלך כזה ואחריו חייבת להיות המשך מדיני

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With liberty

Backing military action against the regime's nuclear programme is with liberty by our test.

At a national security conference he said the 2026 war on Iran was badly managed because it set replacing the regime as a goal, and he called for a deal stricter than the 2015 nuclear agreement with severe sanctions on Tehran's regional activity.

“From the outset, it set goals such as replacing the Iranian regime. That is extremely damaging to Israel, and in practice Iran improved its regional strategic standing as a result of the war.”

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Not clear either way

He rejects regime change as a war aim but backs stopping the nuclear programme with tighter terms and sanctions, so these words do not settle the measure.

As deputy economy minister, weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, he said Israel should take a side and declare itself for Ukraine and against the Russian aggression.

“Quite simply, to say we are for Ukraine, against the Russian aggression.”

In Hebrew: פשוט מאוד, להגיד אנחנו בעד אוקראינה, נגד התוקפנות הרוסית.

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With liberty

Calling for his country to side openly with Ukraine against Russia is with liberty by our test.

In a recording from a May 2024 meeting with voters, he gave not doing reserve duty until the government is replaced as an example of civil disobedience; after it aired he said a call for refusal was being pinned on him.

“Civil disobedience is, for example, we do not do reserve duty. Until the government is replaced, we do not do reserve duty.”

In Hebrew: אי ציות אזרחי זה למשל, אנחנו לא עושים מילואים. עד שהממשלה לא מתחלפת, אנחנו לא עושים מילואים

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Against liberty

Proposing that reservists stay away from duty as political pressure goes against the reserve service the country depends on.

After a recording resurfaced in which he said the army could not and would not want to draft all Haredi men at once, he wrote that service must apply to everyone.

“Service for everyone. Period”

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With liberty

Backing service for all, including the Haredi men now exempt, supports the conscription the army depends on.

In the same interview he criticised the government's limits on admitting refugees from Ukraine and said Israel could open its gates, adding that this did not mean taking in millions or hundreds of thousands.

“Taking in 30 thousand people will not threaten the Jewish character of the State of Israel.”

In Hebrew: לקלוט 30 אלף איש זה לא יאיים על הצביון היהודי של מדינת ישראל

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Not clear either way

Admitting a capped number of war refugees from Ukraine is not illegal entry or a mass amnesty, so the line does not settle the measure.

Said on Channel 12's Meet the Press that he would press his partners in the opposition bloc to form a government with the Islamic party Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas.

“I will work with my partners to form a government with Ra'am”

In Hebrew: אפעל אצל שותפיי להקים ממשלה עם רע"מ

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Against liberty

Bringing the Islamic party Ra'am into a governing coalition counts as working with an Islamic political organisation, whoever proposes it.

Pledged that his party would promote civil marriage and cancel the law that widened the powers of the rabbinical courts.

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With liberty

Civil marriage and rolling back the reach of religious courts are with liberty by our test.

At an emergency meeting of the Knesset lobby for press freedom on the government's closure of Army Radio, he said he would fight to keep the station on air.

“This is a war. A war for freedom of the press, for the right to know, for the truth, for the very breath of democracy.”

In Hebrew: זו מלחמה. מלחמה על חופש העיתונות, על הזכות לדעת, על האמת, על נשמת אפה של הדמוקרטיה.

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With liberty

Opposing a government move to shut down a media outlet is with liberty by our test.

Said in a Channel 13 interview that Channel 14 must either become what he called a media channel or be closed, repeating a pledge he first made in December 2025 to close it once in power.

“Channel 14 is a propaganda channel. Either it becomes a media channel or it will be closed.”

In Hebrew: ערוץ 14 הוא ערוץ תעמולה. או שהוא יהפוך לערוץ תקשורת או שהוא ייסגר

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Against liberty

A government closing a broadcaster over its content counts as against liberty, whoever the target is.

Pledged at the same event to ensure at least 40 percent representation for women and to write gender equality into the Basic Laws.

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Against liberty

A fixed minimum share by sex is a quota by sex, which this measure counts as against.