
Israeli left-wing chief says govt ‘doesn't represent' the people
JERUSALEM : Israeli left-wing opposition leader Yair Golan called today for an immediate end to the Gaza war and said that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government no longer represented most Israelis.
'Today the government of Israel doesn't represent the vast majority of Israelis,' said Golan, chairman of the Democrats party and a former deputy army chief, days before a planned parliament vote which the opposition hopes would trigger a general election.
He told journalists in a briefing that after more than 20 months of fighting, triggered by Hamas's Oct 7, 2023 attack, Israel 'should end the war as soon as possible'.
Golan's party, a conglomeration of left-wing factions, has only four seats in Israel's 120-member legislature, making it one of its smallest political groups.
But in a country where coalition building is essential to achieving a political majority, even relatively small parties can wield considerable power.
Golan, a former deputy minister in a short-lived administration that replaced Netanyahu in 2021-2022, said that the current government – one of the most right-wing in Israel's history – was a threat to democracy.
The opposition leader said he represents those 'who want to save Israeli democracy… from a corrupted future' and from the 'messianic-like and nationalistic and extremist vision of a very small faction in the Israeli society'.
'The vast majority wants to keep Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people and at the same time a free, egalitarian and democratic state,' Golan said.
He said that the vast majority of Israelis wanted to see an immediate end to the war in Gaza, the return of all hostages held by Palestinian rebels in a single exchange deal, and the establishment of a national commission of inquiry into Hamas's unprecedented 2023 attack, arguing that the Netanyahu government was opposed to these objectives.
'I believe that we can reach a hostages deal in a matter of days,' Golan said.
'I believe that by ending the war and freeing the hostages, we will be able to build an alternative to Hamas inside the Gaza Strip.'
Criticising the government's Gaza war policies, the former army general has recently drawn condemnation in Israel for saying that 'a sane country… does not kill babies for a hobby'.
Golan today also said that most Israelis support legislation that would require ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, who are currently largely exempt from military service, to enlist.
The issue has sparked tension between Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox parties in his government, with lawmakers threatening to topple the prime minister if no agreement is reached this week.
Some opposition parties are seeking to place a bill to dissolve parliament on Wednesday's plenary agenda, hoping to capitalise on the ultra-Orthodox revolt.
'The vast majority wants new elections as soon as possible,' Golan said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
US says it rejects Macron's plan to recognise a Palestinian state
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that Washington rejected French President Emmanuel Macron's plan to recognise a Palestinian state, with the top American diplomat calling it a "reckless decision." Macron said on Thursday that France intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly, adding that he hoped it would help bring peace to the Middle East. "This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace," Rubio said in a post on X. Washington's ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said in June he did not think an independent Palestinian state remained a US foreign policy goal.


Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Macron says France will recognise Palestinian state, drawing Israeli ire
PARIS, July 25 — French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September, the most powerful European nation to announce such a move. At least 142 countries now recognise or plan to recognise Palestinian statehood, according to an AFP tally—though Israel and the United States strongly oppose the move. Several countries have announced plans to recognise statehood for the Palestinians since Israel launched a bombardment of Gaza in 2023 in response to the October 7 attacks by Islamist militant group Hamas. Macron's announcement drew immediate anger from Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying it 'rewards terror' and poses an existential threat to Israel. Netanyahu said in a statement that the decision 'risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became', which would be 'a launch pad to annihilate Israel—not to live in peace beside it'. Senior Palestinian Authority official Hussein al-Sheikh welcomed the move, saying it 'reflects France's commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state'. Hamas hailed Macron's pledge as a 'positive step in the right direction toward doing justice to our oppressed Palestinian people and supporting their legitimate right to self-determination'. 'We call on all countries of the world—especially European nations and those that have not yet recognised the State of Palestine—to follow France's lead,' it added. Urgent priority International concern is growing about the plight of the more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where the fighting has triggered a dire humanitarian crisis and warnings of mass starvation. Israel has rejected accusations it is responsible for Gaza's deepening hunger crisis, which the World Health Organization has called 'man-made' and France blamed on an Israeli 'blockade'. Macron said the 'urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population'. 'We must finally build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and enable it, by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East,' he wrote on social media. On the streets of the occupied West Bank, Palestinians told AFP that they hoped other countries would now follow suit. Mahmoud al-Ifranji called France's pledge 'a moral commitment' and a 'political victory for the Palestinian people'. Another man, Nahed Abu Taima, said he hopes France's decision will help lead to peace. 'This recognition will lead to the recognition of Palestine by a number of countries in Europe and the world,' he added. Path to statehood Macron said he intended to make the announcement at the UN General Assembly in September. While France would be the most significant European power to recognise a Palestinian state, others have hinted they could do the same. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he would hold a call on Friday with counterparts in Germany and France on efforts to stop the fighting, adding that a ceasefire would 'put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state'. Norway, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia all announced recognition following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, along with several other non-European countries. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose country already recognises Palestinian statehood, welcomed Macron's announcement. 'Together, we must protect what Netanyahu is trying to destroy. The two-state solution is the only solution,' the Socialist leader, an outspoken critic of Israel's offensive in Gaza, wrote on X. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry hailed Macron's announcement as 'historic' and urged other countries to follow suit. Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Harris in a post on X called France's move 'the only lasting basis for peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike'. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,587 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. — AFP


The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Israel and US recall teams from Gaza ceasefire talks after Hamas response
JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel remains committed to securing a Gaza ceasefire despite recalling negotiators, blaming Hamas for prolonging nearly two years of conflict. Mediators have been facilitating indirect talks in Qatar for over two weeks, but no agreement has been reached. International concern is mounting over Gaza's humanitarian crisis, with warnings of 'mass starvation' affecting over two million Palestinians. Hamas submitted amendments to the latest ceasefire proposal, including demands on aid entry, Israeli troop withdrawals, and war-ending guarantees. Netanyahu, however, accused Hamas of misinterpreting Israel's commitment. 'We are working to release our hostages,' Netanyahu said. 'But if Hamas thinks our willingness to negotiate is weakness, they are mistaken.' A Palestinian source familiar with the talks revealed Hamas's proposed changes, but US envoy Steve Witkoff accused the group of not negotiating in good faith. In Khan Yunis, grieving mother Umm al-Abd Nassar urged Hamas to secure peace after her son was killed in Israeli airstrikes. 'They need to act. Enough destruction and death,' she told AFP. The conflict, now in its 21st month, has seen both sides hold firm on key demands. Israel insists on dismantling Hamas's military capabilities, while Hamas demands a permanent truce, full troop withdrawal, and unrestricted aid. Israel denies responsibility for Gaza's hunger crisis, blaming Hamas for aid disruptions. Meanwhile, international agencies report severe logistical challenges in aid distribution. The Gaza health ministry reports 59,587 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, since the war began. - AFP