Golan Urges Coalition With Arab Parties, Saying Change Bloc Holds Majority

Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats party, addressed partners in the Change Bloc on a Wednesday morning and called for forming a government in partnership with Arab parties, according to Channel 13 News. Quoted in that report, Golan said, “There is an opportunity to form a government with the Arabs. We must stop being afraid,” and added that “Netanyahu has lost.” Ynet, in a report headlined on Golan’s remark that “Netanyahu will not preach about Zionism,” quoted him saying there is an opportunity to form a government in partnership with the Arabs.

Channel 13 reported that Golan argued the vote of an Israeli citizen in Tira is worth exactly the same as one in Give’at Shmuel. Ynet reported the same comparison, spelling the second town as Givat Shmuel, and said Golan stressed that courage and leadership are needed.

Channel 13 said Golan criticized Netanyahu’s reliance on Haredi parties, citing 16 Knesset members from non-Zionist Haredi parties in Netanyahu’s bloc. Golan told the Change Bloc that it holds a Zionist majority of 49 against 39, and an Israeli majority of 65 against 55, saying that 65 is more than 55. Ynet’s report did not give these figures but said Golan had also described the bloc as holding both a Zionist majority and an Israeli majority.

Ynet reported that Golan had taken steps within his party to pave the way for including Ra’am in the government, and that he appeared to be expanding his outreach to the Joint List. Channel 13 did not describe those internal moves. The two reports therefore differ in emphasis: one centers on the address and the vote-equality argument, while the other adds the party-level steps and the outreach to the Joint List.

Channel 13 reported that Joint List Chairman Yousef Jabareen responded later. He said Netanyahu continues to incite against the Arab public, and that the Joint List would speak with anyone offering a real alternative.