Yitzhak Golan

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Yitzhak Golan (born Yitzhak Goldstein; 27 August 1912 – 14 October 1991) was an Israeli politician who served in the Knesset for the Progressive Party and its successors in three periods between 1959 and 1977.

Golan was born in Khodoriv, then part of Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine). He studied at a Hebrew high school and began studying law. As a youth, he led HaNoar HaTzioni and was part of the Zionist Federation’s national council in East Galicia. He moved to Mandatory Palestine in 1936 and helped found Kibbutz Usha in 1937. In the 1940s he held leadership roles in HaOved HaTzioni and HaMerkaz HaHakla'i.

He joined the Progressive Party and served on its central committee, directorate and secretariat from 1949 to 1960. He was elected to the Knesset in 1959 on the party’s list. When the Progressive Party merged with the General Zionists to form the Liberal Party in 1961, he joined the Liberal Party and was re-elected that year.

In 1965, most former Progressive Party members formed the Independent Liberals, and Golan followed. He lost his seat in the 1965 elections but returned to the Knesset on 11 January 1966 to replace Moshe Kol, who had left to join the cabinet. He kept his seat in the 1969 elections but lost it in 1973. He returned to the Knesset on 10 March 1974 to replace Gideon Hausner and served until losing his seat in the 1977 elections.

Golan died in 1991 at the age of 79.