Yair Golan

Yair Golan
יאיר גולן
Official portrait, 2021
Ministerial roles
2021–2022Deputy Minister of Economy
Faction represented in the Knesset
2019–2020Democratic Union
2020–2022Meretz
Other roles
2024Leader of the Labor Party
2024–Leader of The Democrats
Personal details
Born (1962-05-14) 14 May 1962
Rishon LeZion, Israel
Political partyThe Democrats (since 2024)
Other political
affiliations
Israel Democratic Party (2019–2020)
Democratic Choice (2020)
Meretz (2020–2024)
Labor Party (2024)
SpouseRuthie
Children5
Military service
Allegiance Israel
Branch/service Israel Defense Forces
Years of service1980–2018, 2023
Rank Aluf (Major General)
Commands
Battles/wars

Yair Golan (Hebrew: יאיר גולן; born 14 May 1962) is an Israeli politician, the leader of the Democrats party, and reserve major general in the Israel Defense Forces.

He served as the Deputy Minister of Economy in the thirty-sixth Israeli government, and served as a Member of the Knesset representing Meretz from 2019–2022. He is a reserve major general (Aluf) in the Israel Defense Forces. During his military service he served, among other roles, as the IDF Deputy Chief of Staff, Commander of the Home Front Command and Commander of the Northern Command.

In May 2024, Golan was elected leader of the Israeli Labor Party on a platform of merging the party with the rival left-wing party, Meretz. On 30 June 2024, the two parties announced an agreement to form a new party, The Democrats. The agreement, which designates Golan leader of the new party, was approved by both parties' congresses on 12 July 2024.