Golan Calls for Renewed Bipartisan U.S. Ties, Linking Them to Regional Policy

Yair Golan called on November 5 for Israel to renew discussions with both Republicans and Democrats in the United States, saying that restoring the American relationship also required addressing regional policy. He accused Benjamin Netanyahu of damaging the bipartisan approach and said rebuilding the partnership would be an immediate task after replacing the government. “We need to return to talking with the Americans, all Americans,” Golan said in a Hebrew statement. He described bipartisan engagement as a foundation of Israeli policy, but argued that resuming conversations alone would not be enough. In his account, the substance of Israel’s policies and the shared values behind the partnership also needed attention. Golan listed several subjects for those discussions: Mladenov’s 15 points for Gaza, President Trump’s 20 points, the IMEC corridor and Israel’s participation in it, and the future of Israeli security zones in Lebanon and Syria. He also raised violence and governance in Judea and Samaria. He presented those issues as an agenda to address, rather than announcing agreements or completed measures. Golan said the American partnership rested on common interests and values, and that Israel had no substitute for such a powerful ally. Recalling his experience as deputy IDF chief of staff, he described military diplomacy with American counterparts as particularly warm. He identified the photograph accompanying his statement as a briefing during an exercise in southern Israel in 2016. His commitment to rebuild ties was tied to replacing the government; he gave no timetable for a diplomatic meeting.