A general’s perspective on peace: a conversation with MK Yair Golan
NIF Australia is to host Meretz Knesset Member Yair Golan who will discuss his career trajectory as the former Deputy Chief of Staff for the Israel Defense Forces to a parliamentarian speaking out against settler violence and the threats to Israel’s democracy.
Israeli Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Yair Golan, a legislator with the dovish Meretz party, poses during an interview with The Associated Press at his office at the Knesset Jan. 17, 2022. Photo: Tsafrir Abayov
The liberal Zionist MK will be speaking with NIF Australia executive director Liam Getreu, who will be in conversation with him live from Israel.
Getreu said, “Saying Israel can either end the occupation or choose to maintain security for Israelis is a false choice, so it will be illuminating to hear from such an experienced major general who believes that it is in Israel’s best military and political interest to disengage from the current military occupation of the Palestinians.”
Golan’s military career spanned almost 38 years and included commanding the Judea and Samaria Division, Commander of the Home Front Command and the Israeli Northern Command, during which he organised for thousands of Syrians to enter Israel for medical treatment.
Since 2019 he has been a Meretz MK and since July 2021 the Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry where he oversees four main areas including safety in construction, cooperatives, emergency preparedness and improving economic productivity in the Israeli-Arab sector.
As an elected legislator he has used his power to shed light on the increasing examples of terrorism perpetuated settlers who have become increasingly bold in their attacks against Palestinians. He has also written a number of articles for Haaretz advocating against annexation as this will bring an additional 2.6 million Palestinians under Israeli control, without granting them civil rights.
The outspoken legislator will share his views on Israel today and its greatest challenges. He will be speaking on Wednesday 2 March at 7pm.
Registration is free but required at: https://nif.li/ygjwire
Not an unexpected choice of a speaker for NIF. Golan compared Jewish pioneers to Nazis and described Jewish defence as brutal, claiming defenders emptied a clip into “Palestinians”.