Netanyahu must not be allowed to lead Israel through another Iran war, Golan says

Golan’s central argument is about trust during a national-security crisis. He says Netanyahu does not have the public’s confidence and should not lead Israel through another war with Iran. Golan also warns that Israel’s security could become part of Netanyahu’s political struggle to remain in power.

Golan points to his own background and that of opposition figures Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Lapid. He says they understand Israel’s security system, have experience, and can work together. That experience, in his view, would provide a safer alternative during wartime.

Golan therefore calls for an alternative government to be established quickly. He says Israel’s security and its citizens are at stake. The article does not describe any confirmed government change, but it shows Golan pressing opposition leaders to act after the election and prevent security decisions from serving Netanyahu’s political survival.

Golan identifies five opposition figures, including himself, as potential partners in an alternative government. He names Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Lapid. His argument is that these leaders collectively understand Israel’s security system and could provide experienced leadership during a dangerous period.

The mechanism is cooperation across the opposition. Golan says the group has experience, ability, and deep familiarity with the security system. He presents those qualities as a basis for joint action, rather than relying on Netanyahu to lead another war with Iran.

The political challenge is that agreement among these leaders is not yet established. The article reports that Liberman had not publicly entered negotiations and allegedly cut contact with Bennett and Eisenkot. Golan nevertheless says forming an alternative government quickly is critical for Israel’s security and its citizens.

According to Golan’s election calculation, Netanyahu’s bloc won about 55 Knesset seats, while the opposition held 65. The difference is ten seats. Golan presents that result as evidence that Netanyahu lost the election and that the opposition has the stronger parliamentary position.

The key mechanism is the Knesset’s 120-seat structure. A bloc with more seats has greater potential to assemble the support needed to form a government. Golan emphasizes this arithmetic directly, writing that he knows how to count to 120 and that 65 is more than 55.

The figures do not automatically create a government. Opposition leaders would still need to cooperate and secure a stable coalition. That task is uncertain because Liberman reportedly moved toward a unity government and had not entered negotiations with opposition leaders. Still, Golan says the numbers make an alternative government possible and urgent.

A coalition government is an administration supported by multiple political parties rather than one party acting alone. In Israel, parties cooperate because parliamentary power is divided among the Knesset’s 120 seats. Coalition partners usually agree on leadership, policies, and how to share governing responsibilities.

For Golan’s proposed government, opposition leaders would need to turn their reported 65 seats into a dependable alliance. That would mean reaching a formal agreement among Golan, Eisenkot, Lieberman, Bennett, Lapid, and potentially Arab parties. They would also need enough members to support the government when it is formed and during later votes.

The article shows why this is difficult. Liberman had said he would not sit with either Netanyahu or the Arab parties, yet Golan wants Arab parties included. N12 reported that Liberman was pushing for unity instead. The opposition therefore needs both the numbers and political agreement to establish an alternative government.

The main possible consequence is a change in government. If opposition leaders secure dependable backing from 65 Knesset members, they could seek to establish the alternative government Golan says Israel urgently needs. Netanyahu’s bloc would no longer be the group leading the government, assuming the parliamentary process accepts the new coalition.

The reported numbers provide the foundation. Golan says Netanyahu’s bloc has 55 seats and the opposition has 65. He treats that ten-seat advantage as proof that Netanyahu lost and that an opposition-led government is democratically possible. The coalition would still require formal cooperation among the parties and agreement on leadership.

Success is not guaranteed. Liberman has said he would not sit with Netanyahu or the Arab parties, while Golan wants Arab parties included. N12 also reported that Liberman was pushing for a unity government. The immediate implication is a contest over whether the 65 seats become an alternative coalition or remain divided.

Arab parties matter because Golan includes them in his calculation of the opposition’s strength. He says Netanyahu’s bloc has 55 seats and the opposition has 65, counting the Arab parties. Without their participation, the opposition’s proposed coalition could have fewer seats and might not be able to establish an alternative government.

Golan also makes a broader democratic argument. He rejects what he calls Netanyahu’s racist division between Jewish votes and Arab votes. His example compares an Israeli citizen voting in Taybeh with an Israeli citizen voting in Givat Shmuel. He says both votes are worth exactly the same, regardless of the community’s identity.

This position creates a direct political obstacle. Liberman has said he would not join a coalition with the Arab parties, while Golan openly wants them included. The proposed coalition therefore depends not only on seat arithmetic, but also on whether opposition leaders accept cooperation with Arab parties.

The Knesset is Israel’s national legislature, made up of 120 seats. Political parties win those seats in elections, and the distribution determines which groups can try to form the government. Because several parties may hold seats, governments often depend on cooperation among parties.

The article uses this structure to explain Golan’s argument. He says Netanyahu’s bloc has about 55 seats, while the opposition has 65, including Arab parties. Since 65 is larger than 55, Golan argues that the opposition has the stronger election result and should be able to pursue an alternative government.

Seat totals alone do not guarantee power. The opposition leaders must agree to cooperate and maintain enough support for their government. The article identifies serious disagreements: Liberman rejects sitting with Arab parties, and reports say he favored a unity government. Thus, the 120-seat Knesset sets the numbers, while negotiations determine whether those numbers produce a government.