Golan says Netanyahu lost as Democrats demand new government

Yair Golan, the chair of Israel’s Democratic Party, declared on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu effectively lost the US midterm elections. Speaking after the results were announced in the early morning hours, Golan used the social platform X to argue that the voting patterns reveal a growing toxicity surrounding the Prime Minister among both major American political parties.

Golan characterized the election outcome as an alarm bell for the Israeli state. He stated that the continued tenure of Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is steering the country toward international sanctions and direct confrontation with the United States. The party leader emphasized that while the US remains Israel’s most critical ally, current domestic policies threaten to sever that relationship.

The Democrat framed the upcoming political choice as a binary decision between a regressive, boycotted Israel under Netanyahu and a strong, progressive nation. Golan called for the immediate formation of a government of change to restore the country’s standing and advance long-term diplomatic arrangements.

Knesset member Gilad Kariv echoed these calls for a swift transition. He noted that the dramatic blue wave within the US Democratic Party clarifies that Netanyahu’s rule, combined with the annexationist policies of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, damages Israel’s existential interests. Kariv argued that a mainstream American political force capable of preserving the special relationship exists, but it cannot function under the current leadership or a sham unity government dictated by Netanyahu and Smotrich.

Kariv demanded that Netanyahu vacate the office quickly, accusing the Prime Minister of destroying relations with the Democratic Party and half of the Republican Party. He criticized those still advocating for unity with Netanyahu, arguing that they fail to understand the recent electoral shifts in both Israel and the United States.

Outgoing opposition leader Yair Lapid joined the criticism, stating that the midterm results have eliminated any chance of a unity government with Netanyahu. Lapid pointed to the ongoing dispute between Shin Bet Director David Zini and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara as a key factor in the political deadlock. He asserted that Israel cannot afford for Netanyahu to remain in power because it endangers security, jeopardizes democracy, and ruins the country's global standing.

Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List took a different approach, mocking the Shin Bet's investigation into foreign interference in the 26th Knesset elections. Tibi noted that Zini is investigating a suspected link between the Joint List and US Democrats. He described the sophisticated method used in both cases as people arriving at polling stations in droves, casting a ballot, and then going home.