The Democrats, led by Yair Golan, represent the Zionist, social-democratic left. They focus on civic equality, religious pluralism and the two-state solution.
On securityDetails Another authority in GazaThe Democrats want to replace in Gaza with a moderate Palestinian authority.
In short
The Democrats believe cannot be defeated as long as it governs Gaza. The Democrats want a ceasefire, then reconstruction under another Palestinian authority, backed by countries in the region.
What The Democrats proposes
A ceasefire, then the reconstruction of Gaza without Hamas in power.
A moderate Palestinian administration, built with regional and international partners.
On Iran, a stricter deal than the 2015 one rather than new strikes.
On the judiciaryDetails Faster courtsThe Democrats want more efficient courts, without touching the powers of the .7Oct.Independent commission of inquiry?Yes: appointed by the Supreme Court
In short
The Democrats oppose the judicial overhaul. The Democrats want instead to cut delays in the justice system. The Democrats also want an independent state commission of inquiry into October 7.
What The Democrats proposes
More judges, more mediation and shorter delays.
Add a level of appeal.
Keep the 's power to strike down laws.
Quote
“The government must be overthrown if it refuses to obey the law.”
On institutionsDetails Service for allThe Democrats want mandatory service for everyone, with no exemptions.
In short
The Democrats want every young person to serve in the army or do full national service, Haredim included. The Democrats acknowledge that this change will happen gradually.
What The Democrats proposes
Military or national service for all, with no exemptions.
Amend the in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence.
On religionDetails Civil marriage requiredThe Democrats make a condition for joining a coalition.
In short
The Democrats want to end the 's monopoly on marriage and conversion. The Democrats also want to repeal the law that extends gender segregation to universities.
What The Democrats proposes
for all.
Recognize Reform and Conservative conversions on an equal footing with Orthodox ones.
More public transportation on Shabbat.
Repeal the July 2026 law on gender segregation in universities.
Quote
“Civil marriage in a liberal democratic state is a given.”
On diplomacyDetails US and EuropeThe Democrats want to strengthen the alliance with the United States and work closely with Europe.
In short
The Democrats refuse to choose between the United States and Europe. The Democrats criticize the deal between the United States and Iran for being reached without Israel.
What The Democrats proposes
Strengthen the alliance with the United States.
Work closely with the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Quote
“Israel should strengthen its alliance with the US and separately work very closely with the EU…”
Israel should be able to launch a preemptive strike against a country or group that threatens it, even without the support of its allies.
The Democrats do not reject the use of force against Iran, but Yair Golan insists on acting within an alliance with the United States, the Gulf states and the West rather than alone; in January 2026, he said a possible strike would be carried out by the Americans. No statement specifically addresses an attack without the support of allies.
Chatham House, Yair Golan: Israel must not annex millions of Palestinians · Mar 10, 2025 · source ↗✓ For
Israel should accept a long-term ceasefire in Gaza, even if Hamas is not fully disarmed.
Inferred position: the Democrats supported ending the war and the October 2025 ceasefire, but Yair Golan calls for a “decisive response” to every Hamas violation and wants to build a moderate alternative to Hamas in Gaza. No recent statement on a lasting ceasefire without full disarmament was found.
Israel needs 'decisive response' to Hamas attack on troops, says left-wing leader Golan (Times of Israel) · Oct 19, 2025 · source ↗
Faced with Iran’s nuclear program, which approach should Israel favor?
Its position: Negotiate while keeping the threat of military action
The Democrats want a new nuclear agreement with Iran, with intrusive, long-term monitoring, and Yair Golan considers a strike a possible means of achieving it. On October 9, 2026, he calls the elimination of Khamenei a “mistake” and criticizes the government for not having launched a regional diplomatic initiative.
Ynetnews, Yaïr Golan sur l'Iran · Oct 9, 2026 · source ↗
Sources : Fourchette calculée à partir de 4 instituts entre le 16 et le 19 octobre 2026. N12/Midgam, Maariv/Lazar Research, N13 et Kan 11/Kantar. Le détail complet par institut est disponible dans l'encart sondages de la fiche.
The Democrats, led by Yair Golan, represent the Zionist, social-democratic left. They focus on civic equality, religious pluralism and the two-state solution.
Before you vote
What you need to know about this party’s positions before voting
On security
The Democrats want a ceasefire followed by the reconstruction of Gaza under a moderate Palestinian authority, rather than keeping Hamas in power. This scenario presupposes the emergence of a moderate Palestinian leadership capable of governing Gaza, which remains uncertain at this stage.
They accept the ceasefire agreement with Iran, provided that it effectively prevents Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and favor a resumption of fighting in the event of a violation rather than a unilateral preemptive strike: a more cautious approach, but one that leaves the initiative to the adversary in the event of cheating.
On diplomacy
The Democrats have long supported the two-state solution and oppose settlement expansion, with a commitment to cutting public funding for settlements: fewer resources for their development, but already established communities would lose part of their current resources.
Golan rejects any annexation of Judea and Samaria/the West Bank and proposes a plan for separation from the Palestinians, including the evacuation of all illegal outposts and the delineation of clear borders: greater clarity regarding Israel's borders, but at the cost of withdrawal from territories currently under Israeli control.
On institutions
The Democrats want to make the courts more efficient (more judges, more mediation, shorter time frames), rather than fundamentally reforming the judicial system. The Supreme Court's power would therefore remain intact.
Golan demands an independent state commission of inquiry into October 7, rather than a commission chosen by the government, which he accuses of wanting to write the verdict in advance: greater guarantees of impartiality, at the cost of reduced government control over its own conclusions.
The party seeks to amend the “Nation-State” Basic Law in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence, rather than repeal it completely: a compromise that preserves the state's Jewish character while reaffirming civic equality, without going as far as the parties that call for its total repeal.
On social issues
Universal conscription without exemptions would apply to everyone, including the Haredim, with implementation acknowledged as necessarily gradual: greater equality in the distribution of service obligations, but an unclear timetable for the actual pace of change.
Civil marriage would be set as a condition for joining a governing coalition, opening up an option for marrying in Israel outside the current religious framework. The Democrats also want to recognize conversions by the Reform and Conservative movements on an equal footing with Orthodox conversions, which would end the Chief Rabbinate's current monopoly over such recognition.
On education
The Democrats want to replace the current school streams (state, state-religious, Haredi, Arab) with a single state education system, with identical funding for each student regardless of community, and a compulsory core curriculum (mathematics, sciences, history, Jewish-Israeli identity, democracy and civics) for all. This would reduce the current autonomy of religious and community-based streams over their own curricula, in favor of a common framework for the entire population.
On representation
Golan is the only leader of a major party to openly advocate a coalition with Ra'am, an Arab Islamist party, which he considers a legitimate partner for forming a government. The party has also reserved places for representatives of the Arab and Druze communities among the top twenty positions on its electoral list. This opens up a coalition option that other parties rule out, but at the cost of an alliance with a party whose social positions on other issues are far removed from those of the Democrats.
Key positions
Security & National Defense
The Democrats want a new nuclear agreement with Iran, with intrusive, long-term monitoring, and Yair Golan considers a strike a possible means of achieving it. On October 9, 2026, he calls the elimination of Khamenei a “mistake” and criticizes the government for not having launched a regional diplomatic initiative.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
The Democrats remain committed to the two-state solution as part of an agreement, but Yair Golan believes that talking about a Palestinian state now, after October 7, is harmful, and favors separation first, with security in Israel’s hands. MK Gilad Kariv more explicitly supports a demilitarized Palestinian state.
Territories & Settlements
The Democrats oppose annexation and the expansion of settlements. Their platform would end public funding for new outposts and farms, which it considers illegal and contrary to security considerations, and evacuate illegal outposts.
Military Service & Haredi Society
The Democrats promise “equal and full” service for all and rule out governing with the Haredi parties. On October 12, 2026, Yair Golan declares: “We will not sit with those who evade military service.”
Religion & State
The Democrats want to introduce civil marriage and state recognition of marriages performed outside the Chief Rabbinate.
Democracy & Institutions
The Democrats demand a into October 7 and denounce the commissions proposed by the government as “political cover-up commissions”.
History
Yair Golan, a former general, returned to action as a civilian on October 7, 2023, and participated in rescuing survivors of the Re'im music festival.
The Labor Party (Avoda) was founded on January 23, 1968, through the merger of Mapai, Ahdut HaAvoda and Rafi; it dominated Israeli political life for nearly three decades, with all prime ministers coming from its ranks until 1977.
Meretz emerged in 1992 from the union of Ratz, Mapam and Shinui (a unified party from 1997); a leading force in the peace camp during the Oslo Accords, it advocated the peace process, civil rights and the separation of religion and state until its dissolution in 2024.
The party in its current form, born of the merger of the two in 2024, has never served in government, but its historical components have several decades of experience, both in government and in opposition.
Current platform
✓The party has long supported the two-state solution, opposes settlement expansion and is committed to cutting public funding for settlements, with the evacuation of all illegal outposts.
✓It rejects any annexation of Judea and Samaria/the West Bank, which it considers destructive for Israel.
✓It proposes universal national service without exemptions, acknowledging that implementation must necessarily be gradual.
✓It includes civil marriage as a coalition commitment.
✓It defends the current institutional framework of the judiciary, calls for an independent state commission of inquiry into October 7, and firmly supports the Supreme Court in its confrontation with the government.
✓It proposes a single state education system, with uniform funding and standards for all communities.
✓It is the only major party to openly advocate a coalition with Ra'am, which it considers a legitimate partner.
✓It seeks to amend the “Nation-State” Basic Law in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence, and to recognize conversions by the Reform and Conservative movements.
Promises and record
Yair Golan, a former general, returned to action as a civilian on October 7, 2023, and participated in rescuing survivors of the Re'im music festival. The party in its current form has never served in government, but its historical components (Avoda, Meretz) have several decades of experience, both in government and in opposition.
Candidate list (52)
19 women33 men
Documented positions
Security & National Defense4 positions+
Faced with Iran’s nuclear program, which approach should Israel favor?
The Democrats want a new nuclear agreement with Iran, with intrusive, long-term monitoring, and Yair Golan considers a strike a possible means of achieving it. On October 9, 2026, he calls the elimination of Khamenei a “mistake” and criticizes the government for not having launched a regional diplomatic initiative.
Israel should be able to launch a preemptive strike against a country or group that threatens it, even without the support of its allies.
The Democrats do not reject the use of force against Iran, but Yair Golan insists on acting within an alliance with the United States, the Gulf states and the West rather than alone; in January 2026, he said a possible strike would be carried out by the Americans. No statement specifically addresses an attack without the support of allies.
Israel should accept a long-term ceasefire in Gaza, even if Hamas is not fully disarmed.
Inferred position: the Democrats supported ending the war and the October 2025 ceasefire, but Yair Golan calls for a “decisive response” to every Hamas violation and wants to build a moderate alternative to Hamas in Gaza. No recent statement on a lasting ceasefire without full disarmament was found.
Israel should apply the to people convicted of deadly attacks.
The Democrats voted against the law on the death penalty for terrorists, passed on March 30, 2026; MK Gilad Kariv led the opposition to the bill and filed a petition with the , calling the law “immoral”.
For Gaza, the Democrats propose a transitional administration with the Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, the Emirates) and Palestinian technocrats, followed by a role for a reformed Palestinian Authority. Yair Golan believes that “without an improved Palestinian Authority in Gaza”, there will be no civilian alternative to Hamas.
Israel should accept the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a peace agreement.
The Democrats remain committed to the two-state solution as part of an agreement, but Yair Golan believes that talking about a Palestinian state now, after October 7, is harmful, and favors separation first, with security in Israel’s hands. MK Gilad Kariv more explicitly supports a demilitarized Palestinian state.
To reach an agreement with the Palestinians, Israel should be ready to give up part of Judea and Samaria/West Bank.
The Democrats support civilian separation “along the lines of the two-state solution” and oppose annexation; Yair Golan believes that 80% of settlement residents could stay in their homes, which implies giving up the rest of the territory, with land swaps.
Israel should let more humanitarian aid into Gaza, even if part of it risks being diverted by Hamas.
The Democrats sharply criticized the restrictions on aid to Gaza: in May 2025, when aid was blocked, Yair Golan declared that “a sane country does not wage war against civilians”. No statement specifically addresses the risk of diversion by Hamas.
Existing settlements in Judea and Samaria/West Bank should be able to expand.
The Democrats oppose annexation and the expansion of settlements. Their platform would end public funding for new outposts and farms, which it considers illegal and contrary to security considerations, and evacuate illegal outposts.
On which part of Judea and Samaria/West Bank should Israel apply its sovereignty?
The Democrats oppose any annexation in Judea and Samaria/the West Bank; Yair Golan asserts that Israel must not “take the risk of annexing millions of Palestinians”.
What should Israel do about military service for yeshiva students?
The Democrats promise “equal and full” service for all and rule out governing with the Haredi parties. On October 12, 2026, Yair Golan declares: “We will not sit with those who evade military service.”
The state should keep funding religious institutions and services the way it does today.
In 2022, Yair Golan came out in favor of a complete separation of religion and state, and MK Gilad Kariv proposes reorganizing religious services and separating them from state bodies. The Democrats have not recently taken a position on the level of funding for religious institutions.
A Reform or Conservative (Masorti) conversion to Judaism, carried out abroad, should continue to give the right to make .
Inferred position: the Democrats defend a pluralistic Judaism and count among their leaders Reform rabbi Gilad Kariv, a leading figure of the Reform movement; no recent Democrats statement on the Law of Return and conversions performed abroad was found.
Should the Supreme Court be able to strike down a law passed by the ?
The Democrats promise to repeal the judicial reform laws and defend judicial independence and the separation of powers. No recent statement specifically addresses the majority of judges needed to strike down a law.
The October 7 inquiry should be entrusted to a state commission of inquiry, whose members are appointed by the Supreme Court president, rather than to a commission whose members are chosen by the Knesset.
The Democrats demand a state commission of inquiry into October 7 and denounce the commissions proposed by the government as “political cover-up commissions”.
An Arab party should be able to be part of a governing .
The Democrats are the only opposition party to openly support the participation of an Arab party, such as Ra’am, in a coalition; Yair Golan considers this “natural, right and appropriate”.
What should be done with the 2018 “Nation-State” law?
The 2024 merger agreement between the Labor Party and Meretz, which founded the Democrats, provides for the repeal of the Nation-State law, considered discriminatory toward non-Jewish citizens.
The state should lower taxes, even if this means cutting some public spending.
The Democrats present themselves as social democrats: the merger agreement supports the welfare state, strong unions and the refusal to privatize health care and education. The Democrats have not explicitly taken a position on raising taxes.
Publicly funded services should be allowed to offer separate spaces for men and women when a community asks for it.
Yair Golan pledges to fight gender segregation in the public sphere, and the Democrats reject the idea of religious authorities dictating “how to dress or where to travel”.
Israel should create a civil union open to same-sex couples, with the same rights as married couples.
Yair Golan supports marriage for same-sex couples and the fight against homophobia; the Democrats promise civil marriage. No recent statement specifically on civil unions.
Israel should gradually reduce the military aid it receives from the United States, to have more freedom in its choices.
Inferred position: the Democrats emphasize the alliance with the United States and Western partners, and blame Benjamin Netanyahu for weakening Israel’s alliances; no statement on reducing US military aid was found.
The time a Prime Minister can stay in power should be limited by law, for example to eight years.
The Labor Party and Meretz, which now make up the Democrats, were part of the Bennett-Lapid coalition that passed in first reading, in November 2021, the eight-year limit on a Prime Minister’s term (66 votes in favor). In 2026, the Democrats want to “change the rules of the game”, but no recent statement on term limits was found.
Haredi schools that receive state money should be required to teach core subjects (math, English, science), like other schools.
Yair Golan strongly criticizes the lack of general education in Haredi schools; the Democrats rule out governing with the Haredi parties and want to change the education system.
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