May Golan is an Israeli politician, political activist and commentator. She served as a member of the Knesset for the Likud Party. She is currently a member of the Knesset for Likud. She was formerly the CEO of the Hebrew City an NGO, and a campaigner against illegal immigration.
Early life
Golan was born May Flora Golan Badra in Tel Aviv, Israel, to a Mizrahi Jewish family, the child of a single Orthodox Jewish mother who made Aliyah from Iraq as a 3 year old girl as part of Operation Ezra and Nehemiah. She grew up near the old central bus station in South Tel Aviv. She still lives today in South Tel Aviv, with her mother - previously onMount Zion Street and today in Kfar Shalem. At the age of 9, she was interviewed on television with her mother, who was described as an archetype of distress being a single mother living on a social security pension in a deprived area of the city, on Channel 1, as part of a report on annual poverty in Israel. Following the broadcast, May was contacted by Gila Almagor and her Wish Foundation charity. As a result of Gila's help, she was identified as a child with potential by the municipality, who invited her to attend a school in North Tel Aviv, Ironi Dalet High School, where she was bullied for her South Tel Aviv background.
Political career
Golan became politically active in 2011, campaigning to raise awareness about the impact of illegal immigration on south Tel Aviv. She became the most recognisable face in the campaign against illegal immigration in Tel Aviv. In 2013 she established the organization "Hebrew city", which stood for election to the Tel Aviv city council, but was disqualified for technical reasons. In elections of the 19th Knesset, she was placed at the 10th place candidate for the Otzma Leyisrael party. In elections of the 20th Knesset, she was placed 32nd as a candidate for the Likud party which ultimately went on to receive the highest number of votes.
Media career
May Golan is a frequent guest on political panels on television channels in Israel. She has also been interviewed by international media organizations, such as the BBC, Reuters, Fox News, I24News and RTVI. In 2014, she was chosen as one of the 66 women to be aware of, by the newspaper Haaretz. In 2015, she was selected as 'Woman of the Year' in the social field by Israel's Channel 7.
