Yair Golan (Hebrew: יָאִיר גּוֹלָן [jaˈʔiʁ goˈlan]; born 14 May 1962) is an Israeli politician, the leader of the Democrats party, and reserve major general in the Israel Defense Forces.

He served as the Deputy Minister of Economy in the thirty-sixth Israeli government, and served as a Member of the Knesset representing Meretz from 2019 to 2022. He is a reserve major general (Aluf) in the Israel Defense Forces. During his military service he served, among other roles, as the IDF Deputy Chief of Staff, Commander of the Home Front Command and Commander of the Northern Command.

In May 2024, Golan was elected leader of the Israeli Labor Party on a platform of merging the party with the rival left-wing party, Meretz. On 30 June 2024, the two parties announced an agreement to form a new party, The Democrats. The agreement, which designates Golan leader of the new party, was approved by both parties' congresses on 12 July 2024.

Golan was born and raised in Rishon LeZion. His father, Gershon Goldner, fled with his parents from Nazi Germany to Mandatory Palestine in 1935. His father served in the IDF and his last role was a senior technical assistant to the chief communications and electronics officer at the rank of lieutenant colonel (Sgan Aluf). His mother, Rachel, was born in Tel Aviv to Aryeh Rapoport, who immigrated from Ukraine in 1921, and Hana, born in moshav Nachalat Yehuda, now a part of Rishon LeZion. His elder brother is a Geography and History professor in the University of Haifa and his younger sister is a special-education teacher in the Shamir Medical Center.

Golan studied at Haviv Elementary School and "Yadlin" School in Rishon LeZion and Ort Singalovsky School in Tel Aviv. Golan was the head of the "nest council" (one rank above instructors) of Rishon LeZion in the leftist Labour Zionist youth movement HaNoar HaOved.

Golan was drafted into the IDF in 1980. After successfully passing the flight academy acceptance tests, he decided to follow his brother's steps and volunteer for the paratrooper brigade instead. He served as a soldier and a squad leader and fought in the 1982 Lebanon War. After completing Officer Candidate School he became an infantry officer and returned to the Paratroopers Brigade as a platoon leader. Golan served as the commander of the Brigade's anti-tank company and led the 890 Paratroop Battalion in counter-guerrilla operations in the South Lebanon conflict and in the First Intifada. In 1993, he served as a Battalion Commander in IDF Officers' School and afterwards served as Judea and Samaria Division's Operations Branch Officer. Between the years 1996–1997 he commanded the Eastern brigade of Lebanon Liaison Unit and was injured in an encounter with a squad of Hezbollah militants. He then served as the head of the Operations section in the Operations Directorate. During the Second Intifada, Golan commanded the Nahal Infantry Brigade. Afterwards, he commanded the 91st Division and the Judea and Samaria Division.

From 2008 to 2011, Golan served as the Commander of Home Front Command, which he led through Operation Cast Lead. In July 2011, he served as the Commander of Israeli Northern Command, and in December 2014 as Deputy Chief of General Staff. According to Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, prior to Gadi Eisenkot's appointment as Chief of Staff in February 2015, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu preferred Golan over Eisenkot; however, Eisenkot was chosen, and Golan continued in his role. Golan retired from active service in March 2018, after being replaced by Aluf Aviv Kochavi in May 2017.

Golan was a candidate for replacing Gadi Eisenkot, and discussions were held in 2018. There were strong objections from non-political parties due to his controversial statement during a Holocaust Day speech. Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman ended up choosing Aviv Kohavi over Golan.^{[citation needed]}