Yair Lapid

Prime Minister of Israel in 2022

Yair Lapid

יאיר לפיד

Official portrait, 2022

Leader of the Opposition

Incumbent

Assumed office
2 January 2023[1]
Prime Minister| Benjamin Netanyahu
Preceded by| Benjamin Netanyahu
In office
17 May 2020 – 6 April 2021
Prime Minister| Benjamin Netanyahu
Preceded by| Shelly Yachimovich (2019)
Succeeded by| Benjamin Netanyahu
14th Prime Minister of Israel
In office
1 July 2022 (2022-07-01) – 29 December 2022 (2022-12-29)
President| Isaac Herzog
Alternate| Naftali Bennett
Preceded by| Naftali Bennett
Succeeded by| Benjamin Netanyahu
2nd Alternate Prime Minister of Israel
In office
13 June 2021 (2021-06-13) – 30 June 2022
Prime Minister| Naftali Bennett
Preceded by| Benny Gantz
Succeeded by| Naftali Bennett
Leader of Yesh Atid

Incumbent

Assumed office
1 May 2012 (2012-05-01)
Preceded by| Position established
Member of the Knesset

Incumbent

Assumed office
5 February 2013 (2013-02-05)
Ministerial roles
2013–2014| Minister of Finance
2021–2022| Minister of Foreign Affairs
Faction represented in the Knesset
2013–2019| Yesh Atid
2019–2020| Blue and White
2020–| Yesh Atid
Personal details
Born|  (1963-11-05) 5 November 1963 (age 60)
Tel Aviv, Israel
Political party| Yesh Atid
Spouse| Lihi Lapid
Children| 3
Parent(s)| Tommy Lapid
Shulamit Lapid
Occupation|

* Politician
* journalist

Yair Lapid (Hebrew: יָאִיר לַפִּיד, IPA: [jaˈʔiʁ laˈpid]; born 5 November 1963) is an Israeli politician of the centrist Yesh Atid party, and a former journalist. He has been the Leader of the Opposition since January 2023, having previously served in that role from 2020 to 2021. He served as the 14th Prime Minister of Israel from 1 July to 29 December 2022. He previously served as the Alternate Prime Minister of Israel and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2021 to 2022. Lapid is the chairman of Yesh Atid, and Minister of Finance from 2013 to 2014.[2]

Before entering politics in 2012, Lapid was an author, TV presenter and news anchor. The centrist Yesh Atid party, which he founded, became the second-largest party in the Knesset by winning 19 seats in its first legislative election in 2013. The greater-than-anticipated results contributed to Lapid's reputation as a leading centrist.

From 2013 to 2014, following his coalition agreement with Likud, Lapid served as Minister of Finance under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In 2013, Lapid ranked first on the list of the "Most Influential Jews in the World" by The Jerusalem Post.[3] He was also recognized in 2013 as one of the leading Foreign Policy Global Thinkers,[4] and ranked as one of Time magazine's 100 "Most Influential People in the World".[5] He serves on the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and the Sub-Committee on Intelligence and the Security Services.[6]

On 17 May 2020, Lapid became the Leader of the Opposition, after the thirty-fifth government of Israel was sworn in.[7] On 5 May 2021, he began talks with other parties to try to form a coalition government.[8] On 2 June 2021, Lapid informed Israeli President Reuven Rivlin that he had agreed to a rotation government with Naftali Bennett and was prepared to replace the incumbent prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.[9] The new government was sworn in on 13 June 2021.[10]

Lapid became the Prime Minister of Israel on 1 July 2022 after Bennett stepped down as prime minister following the dissolution of the Knesset. Lapid remained prime minister until a new government was formed after the November 2022 election.[11]

## Biography[edit]

Lapid in the early 1980s while serving as a military correspondent for the IDF's weekly newspaper

Yair Lapid was born in Tel Aviv, the son of journalist and politician Yosef "Tommy" Lapid, who served as Justice Minister, and novelist and playwright Shulamit (Giladi) Lapid. His father was born in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (now Serbia) to Hungarian Jewish parents,[12] and his mother was born in Tel Aviv. His maternal grandfather David Giladi, originally from Transylvania (now Romania), was a writer and journalist who was among the founders of the newspaper Maariv.[13][14][15] He has a sister, Merav, who is a clinical psychologist. Another sister, Michal, died in a car accident in 1984.[16] His paternal grandfather Bela (Meir) Lampel, a lawyer and Zionist activist, was murdered in Mauthausen concentration camp, while his great-grandmother Hermione Lampel was sent to Auschwitz, where she was murdered in a gas chamber.[17][18]

Lapid grew up in Tel Aviv and London. His childhood home in Tel Aviv was in the Yad Eliyahu neighborhood, in a residential building known as the Journalists' Residence, as several prominent journalists lived there. He attended high school at the Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium, but struggled with learning disabilities and dropped out without earning a bagrut certificate.[16][19] Lapid spent most of his mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces as a military correspondent for the IDF's weekly newspaper, Bamahane ("In the base camp").[20] He has given different versions of how he began his service in the IDF before being transferred to Bamahane, alternatively claiming to have begun his service in the Armored Corps until he was transferred after suffering an asthma attack due to a smoke grenade and to have started his service in the Israeli Air Defense Command before being pulled out due to suffering an asthma attack from dust and haze during basic training.[21][22] After completing his military service, he began working as a reporter for Maariv and published poetry in literary journals. He also had a career as an amateur boxer.[23]

In the mid-1980s, Lapid married Tamar Friedman. The marriage produced one son, Yoav (born 1987). The couple divorced after the birth of their son.[24] He later married Lihi Lapid, with whom he has two children.[25] The couple lives in the Ramat Aviv Gimel neighborhood of Tel Aviv.[26][27] He attends the Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism, a Reform synagogue in Tel Aviv.[28]

## Journalism and media career[edit]

Yair Lapid in Jacob Goldwasser's 1991 film Beyond the Sea

In 1988, at age 25, Lapid was appointed editor of Yedioth Tel Aviv, a local newspaper published by the Yedioth Ahronoth group. In 1991, he began writing a weekly column in a nationwide newspaper's weekend supplement—first for Maariv, and later for its competitor, Yedioth Ahronoth. His column's name, "Where's the Money?", became his political slogan decades later.[27]

In 1994, Lapid started on TV, hosting the leading Friday evening talk show on Israel TV's Channel 1.[29] In 1997, he had an acting role in an Israeli film about the Gulf War, Song of the Siren.[30] He next hosted a talk show on TV Channel 3. In the 1990s, Lapid hosted a current affairs talk show called "Yair Lapid" on Channel 2.[31]

From 1989 to 2010, Lapid wrote and published books spanning a variety of genres. His first was a thriller, of which he has published three more; the others include two children's books, two novels, and a collection of his newspaper columns. In addition, he wrote a drama series, War Room, that aired on Channel 2 in 2004. He has written a total of 12 books. His most successful book, Memories After My Death, was a biography of his late father.[32]

Lapid was also a songwriter for numerous Israeli musicians, among them Rami Kleinstein, Yardena Arazi, and Rita. Some of the songs he wrote became hits which reached the top of the charts in Israel.[33][32]

In January 2008, Lapid was the host of Ulpan Shishi (Friday Studio), Channel 2's Friday night news magazine. That year, the Cameri Theater performed his first play, The Right Age for Love.[34]

In January 2012, controversy arose after Lapid was admitted by Bar-Ilan University into a doctorate program, studying towards a PhD in hermeneutics. This was in violation of rules stating that all doctoral candidates must hold at minimum a bachelor's degree. Lapid, who had failed to complete high school, was admitted to the university based on his extra-academic credentials and career in journalism and writing. After the Knesset Education Committee launched an investigation, the Council for Higher Education canceled the program under which Lapid was admitted, which had allowed students without a BA to study towards a doctorate.[35][36]

In September 2013, the Israeli edition of Forbes magazine estimated Lapid's net worth at 22 million shekels.[37]

## Political career[edit]

Yair Lapid giving a speech at Sapir Academic College in November 2015 Lapid (r.) with Benny Gantz in 2019

On 8 January 2012 Lapid announced that he would be leaving journalism in order to enter politics.[38]

### Yesh Atid[edit]

On 30 April he formally registered his party, "Yesh Atid" (Hebrew: יש עתיד, lit., "There's a Future").[39] The move was timed to coincide with the general expectation in Israel for early elections to be held in the early fall of 2012.[40]

A few days after Yesh Atid's registration, in a surprise move, Benjamin Netanyahu formed a national unity government. It was then thought that Lapid's party would have to wait until late 2013 before it could participate in national elections. But in October 2012, following the departure of Kadima from Netanyahu's coalition over how to implement a Supreme Court decision ending the exemption from the military draft for the ultra-Orthodox, Netanyahu announced that elections would take place in late January 2013, affording Yesh Atid its first opportunity to run. In November 2012, Yesh Atid was polling an average of 11.6%, or 13–14 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. The results of the January election showed the party winning an unexpected 19 seats, making Yesh Atid the second-largest party in the 19th Knesset.[41]

Lapid was named Israel's finance minister on 15 March 2013.[42] Only nine months later, a survey was published showing a continuing trend of decreasing popularity, with 75% of those polled claiming to be disappointed by his performance, and his party achieved only 10 seats in the Knesset, as opposed to the 19 it got at the beginning of the year.[43]

On 2 December 2014, Netanyahu fired Lapid as finance minister.[44]

In 2016, Lapid presented his platform, the "Seven Point Plan for Israel", which includes a robust security doctrine, a regional conference with Arab states based on the necessity of separating from the Palestinians, reforms of the political system to clean up corruption, the State of Israel that strikes a balance between its Jewish and democratic character, a strengthened law enforcement system, an economy propelled forward by innovation, and increased emphasis on education and science.[45][46]

Under Lapid, Yesh Atid claims to spearhead the fight against corruption in Israel. The "Nachshon Plan", unveiled in 2017, stipulates that any person found guilty of corruption will be banned from serving in public office. To prevent political bribery, it also abolishes "coalition funds".[47]

### Mandate to form a government[edit]

Lapid (l.) with president Reuven Rivlin in May 2021

On 5 May 2021, Lapid was entrusted with the second mandate to form a new government, after the incumbent Netanyahu failed to do so with the first mandate.[8] On 9 May 2021, it was reported that Lapid and Bennett had made major headway in the coalition talks.[48] However, on 10 May, coalition talks seemed to be jeopardized as the Ra’am party announced it was suspending coalition talks, due to escalation in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. [49] On 13 May his path to being Prime Minister was further complicated when Naftali Bennett reportedly decided against joining a Lapid government due to the ongoing military conflict with Gaza.[50]

On 30 May 2021, Bennett announced in a televised address that Yamina would indeed join a unity government with Lapid, after all but one of Yamina's MKs agreed to back this decision.[51] On 2 June 2021, following negotiations with Lapid and Bennett, Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas officially signed a coalition agreement with Lapid and agreed to allow his party to join.[52] The Knesset ultimately voted in favor of the new government by a one-vote margin on 13 June.[53] the government was sworn in that same day, with Lapid becoming the Alternate Prime Minister of Israel and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.[54]

### Minister of Foreign Affairs and Alternate Prime Minister[edit]

Upon becoming the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lapid's ministry assumed the duties of the now-defunct Ministry of Strategic Affairs.[55] Several weeks later Lapid inaugurated Israel's embassy in Abu Dhabi, in what was the first official visit of the country by a member of the Israeli Government.[56] In August 2021, he appointed former Minister of Health Yael German as Israeli Ambassador to France, and former Member of the Knesset Shimon Solomon as ambassador to Angola.[57]

On 11 August, Lapid visited Rabat to inaugurate Israel's embassy in the city.[58] In September, he inaugurated the Israeli Embassy in Manama,[59] and announced the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Sweden.[60]

### Prime Minister of Israel and Leader of the Opposition[edit]

Prime Minister Lapid with U.S. President Biden, 2022

Lapid became the interim Prime Minister of Israel on 1 July 2022,[61] after the Knesset voted to dissolve and call a snap election the previous day.[62] During his term, Israel was involved in a series of clashes with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.[63] In the ensuing snap election, Yesh Atid won 24 seats.[64] A new government was formed by Benjamin Netanyahu, who succeeded Lapid as Prime Minister on 29 December 2022.[65] Lapid became the Leader of the Opposition for a second time on 2 January 2023.[66]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed that opposition parties Yesh Atid and National Unity enter an emergency unity government amid the October 2023 Gaza−Israel conflict,[67] after Leader of the Opposition Lapid urged Nethanyahu put "aside our differences and form an emergency, narrow, professional government."[68]

## Political views[edit]

Lapid has said that he would demand a resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.[69] His party's 2013 platform calls for an outline of "two states for two peoples", while maintaining the large Israeli settlement blocs, a united Jerusalem, and ensuring Israel's safety.[70] In January 2013, just days before the election, Lapid said he would not join a cabinet that stalled peace talks with the Palestinian Authority, and added that a single country for both Israelis and Palestinians without a peace agreement would endanger Israel's Jewish character. He said, "We're not looking for a happy marriage with the Palestinians, but for a divorce agreement we can live with."[71] As part of a future peace agreement, Lapid said Palestinians would have to recognize that the large West Bank settlement blocs of Ariel, Gush Etzion and Ma'aleh Adumim would remain within the State of Israel.[72] According to Lapid, only granting Palestinians their own state could end the conflict and Jews and Arabs should live apart in two states, while Jerusalem should remain undivided under Israeli rule.[73][74] He is enthusiastic about annexing the Golan Heights, and has also declared that he is guided by a principle of "maximum Jews on maximum land with maximum security and with minimum Palestinians."[75]

Of the diplomatic stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Lapid said, "Most of the blame belongs to the Palestinian side, and I am not sure that they as a people are ready to make peace with us."[76] He has also dismissed the possibility of a comprehensive peace deal with the Palestinians as unrealistic.[77]

In June 2015, after the March 2015 elections, Lapid visited the United States, and after an hour-long interview, American journalist Jeffrey Goldberg wrote, "Lapid is a leader of the great mass of disillusioned centrists in Israeli politics. He could conceivably be prime minister one day, assuming Benjamin Netanyahu, in whose previous cabinet he served, ever stops being prime minister. Now functioning as a kind of shadow foreign minister, Lapid argues that Israel must seize the diplomatic initiative with the Palestinians if it is to continue existing as a Jewish-majority democracy, and he is proposing a regional summit somewhat along the lines of the earlier Arab Peace Initiative. Lapid is not a left-winger—he has a particular sort of contempt for the Israeli left, born of the belief that leftists do not recognize the nature of the region in which they live. But he is also for territorial compromise as a political and moral necessity, and he sees Netanyahu leading Israel inexorably toward the abyss."[78]

In September 2015, Lapid laid out his diplomatic vision in a major speech at Bar Ilan University[79] in which he said, "Israel's strategic goal needs to be a regional agreement that will lead to full and normal relations with the Arab world and the creation of a demilitarized independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. That's where Israel needs to head. Separation from the Palestinians with strict security measures will save the Jewish character of the state."

Lapid supports recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He stated in 2017 that with Iran attempting to establish a foothold in Syria, Israel cannot be expected to relinquish the Golan Heights.[80]

### Religion and state[edit]

In 2013, when Yesh Atid sat in the government, Lapid pushed for increased public transportation on Shabbat, as opposed to the current law that mandates most public transportation shut down.[81]

Additionally, Lapid strongly supports instituting a civil marriage track in Israel. Currently, marriage and divorce for Jews are controlled by the Chief Rabbinate, which will not officiate marriages between Jews and non-Jews, and some Israelis from the Soviet Union who are not Jewish according to Jewish law cannot marry in Israel.[82] Although Israel recognizes civil marriages that are performed abroad, there is no mechanism for performing civil marriage in Israel. In 2015, under Lapid's leadership, Yesh Atid championed a bill to institute civil marriage, but the bill was defeated in the Knesset, with 50 votes against and 39 in favor.[83]

### Israel-diaspora relations[edit]

When Netanyahu walked back his promise to Diaspora Jews in 2017 to expand prayer at the Western Wall, Lapid strongly criticised the decision, saying that the Israeli government alienated "senators, congressmen, the majority of the pro-Israel lobby, major donors, the people we turn to when we need help ensuring that Israel will get advanced weapons, that the military assistance will increase, that there will be sanctions on Iran".[84] He implored American Jews to "not give up on us. We have no intention of giving up on you. We are one people. It might take time. It might take elections. But in a democracy, the majority decides, and the majority in Israel want us to be one nation."[84] Lapid asserts that it is Israel's responsibility to recognize all streams of Judaism, including streams which don't follow Orthodox Jewish Law.[85]

Lapid is a leading proponent of a deep bipartisan US-Israel relationship. He has upbraided Netanyahu for alienating American Democrats: "The fact that the [Israeli] government completely identifies with the conservative, evangelical faction of the Republican party is dangerous."[86]

When Jewish Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch's request to attend the embassy opening in Jerusalem was ignored, Lapid said, "There's no way the government of Israel didn't notice this. It's the job of the Prime Minister's office to look at the list and say: We are nonpartisan and are not just attached to Republicans."[86]

### Haredim[edit]

During the 2013 election campaign, Lapid spoke of "equal shares of the burden" for all Israeli citizens. He said he would work to see all Israeli citizens, including the thousands of Haredim, who had up until that point been exempt from most civil service, be included in military and civil service.[87][88] On 27 May 2013, Lapid threatened to topple the government unless ultra-Orthodox would be subject to criminal sanctions for draft-dodging. In the view of some Haredim, Lapid's plan represents a "spiritual holocaust", as they believe that their Jewish studies are what upholds Israel. Some Haredim have declared that even at the risk of being criminals, they will continue in their Jewish studies and refuse to enlist or perform civilian service.[89][90] Lapid denied that he was seeking to destroy the Haredi way of life, saying: "Not one of us wishes, Heaven forbid, to force hiloniyut [secularism] on you or to impose our version of Israeli identity. This state was established so that Jews could be Jews, and live as Jews, without having to fear anyone."[91]

### Stance on alleged anti-Israel bias[edit]

Lapid is a vocal opponent of the BDS movement, which seeks to economically isolate Israel. He has said, "We can no longer abandon this battle to the haters of Israel. We need to defend Israel's good name in the world. They are besmirching us, and the time has come to answer them." Lapid has also helped college students in America oppose BDS.[92]

Lapid has spoken out vehemently about alleged United Nations bias against Israel. In an op-ed, he excoriated the United Nations Human Rights Council for voting for "61 resolutions condemning human rights abuses across the world, and 67 resolutions which condemned Israel" in the past decade and having its own agenda item on Israel. Lapid blames UNESCO for "erasing Jewish history".[93]

Lapid traces the UN's alleged bias against Israel to the creation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA) in 1950, which services only Palestinian refugees and gives them hereditary status so that the number of refugees has expanded from approximately 750,000 to five million.[94]

### Amendment to the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance[edit]

Lapid, whose father was a Holocaust survivor, spoke out against Poland's controversial Holocaust bill, which would criminalize accusing the Polish nation of being complicit in the Holocaust. Lapid said: "No Polish law will change history. Poland was complicit in the Holocaust. Hundreds of thousands of Jews were murdered on its soil without them having met any German officer."[95] He added that his "grandmother was murdered in Poland by Germans and Poles".[96] Lapid also wrote that there were "Polish death camps". The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum stated that Lapid's claims about alleged Polish cooperation in the Holocaust were a "conscious lie" and that Lapid was "using Holocaust as a political game" that mocked the victims, also likening his allegation to the claims made by Holocaust deniers.[97][98]

In February 2018, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that "there were Jewish perpetrators" of the Holocaust, "not only German perpetrators".[99] Lapid condemned Morawiecki's words, saying: "The perpetrators are not the victims. The Jewish state will not allow the murdered to be blamed for their own murder."[100]

Lapid's book Memories After My Death chronicles his father's life and observations as Israel evolved over its first sixty years.[101]

## Awards and recognition[edit]

In April 2013, Lapid appeared on Time magazine's list of "100 Most Influential People in the World 2013" in the category Leaders.[5] The following month, he ranked first on the list of the "Most Influential Jews in the World" by The Jerusalem Post.[3] He also was listed as one of the "Foreign Policy Global Thinkers 2013".[4]

## Published works[edit]

* The Double Head: thriller (1989)
* Yoav's Shadow: children's book (1992)
* One-Man Play: novel (1993)
* Elbi – A Knight's Story: children's book (1998)
* The Sixth Riddle: thriller (2001)
* Standing in a Row: collection of newspaper columns (2005)
* The Second Woman: thriller (2006)
* Sunset in Moscow: thriller (2007)
* Memories After My Death: Biography (2010)
* A Journey to Our Future (2017)

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Leader of the Opposition". Knesset. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
2. ^ "Dreams of the father guide Yair Lapid as he eyes Israel's premiership". France 24. 1 June 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
3. ^ a b Jerusalem Post staff (4 May 2013). "Top 50 most influential Jews 2013: Places 1–10". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
4. ^ a b "Yair Lapid – For appealing to Israel's political center". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
5. ^ a b Vick, Karl. "The 2013 TIME 100". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
6. ^ roni. "Yair Lapid". Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
7. ^ Magid, Jacob (17 May 2020). "Lapid predicts 'crooked' new government will fall quickly". Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
8. ^ a b Hoffman, Gil (5 May 2021). "Lapid, Bennett hope to form government within a week". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
9. ^ Hoffman, Gil (3 June 2021). "Lapid tells Rivlin: I have succeeded in forming coalition with Bennett". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
10. ^ Lieber, Dov (13 June 2021). "Israel Gets New Government to End Netanyahu's 12-Year Rule". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
11. ^ Spiro, Amy (1 July 2022). "Yair Lapid takes over as Israel's 14th prime minister". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
12. ^ Beck, Mordechai (20 June 2008). "Yosef Lapid". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
13. ^ Shulamit Lapid Archived 17 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine – Jewish Women's Archive
14. ^ Gradstein, Linda (17 January 2012). "In entering Israeli politics, Yair Lapid eyes force of socioeconomic protests | Jewish Telegraphic Agency". Jta.org. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
15. ^ "Shulamit Lapid | Jewish Women's Archive". Jwa.org. 1 March 2009. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
16. ^ a b Schechter, Asher (23 January 2012). "Who Is Yair Lapid?". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
17. ^ "The truth about Poland and the Holocaust". The Times of Israel. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
18. ^ "Yair Lapid on Twitter". 2018. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
19. ^ אטילה שומפלבי (5 January 2018). "יאיר לפיד: 'לא מצאו עליי כלום, אז המציאו סיפור'" [Yair Lapid: 'They did not find anything about me, so they invented a story']. Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
20. ^ Heller, Aron (8 January 2012). "Popular Israeli TV newsman enters politics". The Seattle Times. Associated Press.
21. ^ "הפרוטקציה בצבא, הסטירה שחטף והשעבוד לסקרים. מה יאיר לפיד בעיניך?". הארץ. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022 - via Haaretz.
22. ^ "כתבות ספונטני, רגיש ובעל חוש הומור פרספקטיבי אונליין". presspectivi.goop.co.il. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
23. ^ "לא קצין, אבל ג'נטלמן" [Not an officer, but a gentleman]. mako.co.il (in Hebrew). 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
24. ^ Hecht, Ravit (2 February 2019). "The underdog who believes he's Israel's next prime minister". Haaretz.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
25. ^ Harkov, Lahav (21 January 2013). "Labor targets undecided female voters via kids". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
26. ^ Danan, Deborah (15 January 2013). "Who is Yair Lapid?". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
27. ^ a b Kershner, Isabel (23 January 2013). "Charismatic Leader Helps Israel Turn Toward the Center". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
28. ^ Dornberg, Natasha (24 January 2013). "Yair Lapid's 'Jewish Home' Is a Reform Synagogue in Tel Aviv". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
29. ^ "Yair Lapid". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
30. ^ Rubinkowski, Leslie (15 February 1997). "Love, daily life battle war in fresh Israeli film, "Siren"". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 27\. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
31. ^ "יאיר לפיד" [Yair Lapid]. Reshet. Archived from the original on 3 August 2014.
32. ^ a b Yair Lapid Archived 28 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine – Official Biography
33. ^ "הלהיטים הגדולים של יאיר לפיד". xnet. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
34. ^ "Yair Lapid". embassies.gov.il. Government of Israel. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
35. ^ "No BA means no PhD for Yair Lapid". The Times of Israel. 23 February 2012. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
36. ^ Harkov, Lahav (29 January 2012). "Knesset C'tee to probe Lapid doctorate affair". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
37. ^ Galit Edot (5 September 2013). "Israel's wealthiest politicians". Forbes. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
38. ^ "Veteran Israeli anchor Yair Lapid leaves Channel 2 to enter politics". Haaretz. 8 January 2012. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
39. ^ "Lapid registers new party, 'Yesh Atid'". The Jerusalem Post. 29 April 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
40. ^ Sherwood, Harriet (9 January 2012). "Israeli TV talkshow host Yair Lapid to launch political party". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
41. ^ "19th Knesset to see Right, Left virtually tied". ynet. 22 January 2013. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
42. ^ "Ex-TV anchor Yair Lapid named as Israeli finance minister". Reuters. 15 March 2013. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
43. ^ "75% dissatisfied with Lapid's performance". Globes. 26 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
44. ^ Ilan Ben Zion, (2 December 2014). Netanyahu fires Lapid, Livni from ministerial posts Archived 16 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine. The Times of Israel.
45. ^ "Yesh Atid Headed by Yair Lapidc". www.yeshatid.org.il. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
46. ^ ""תוכנית 7 הנקודות" של לפיד". www.israelhayom.co.il (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
47. ^ "Yesh Atid Israel Centrist Party – This is How We Will Combat Corruption". Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
48. ^ Shlezinger, Yehuda (10 May 2021). "Report: Lapid, Bennett make major headway in coalition talks". Israel Hayom. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
49. ^ Fulbright, Alexander (10 May 2021). "Ra'am freezes coalition talks with 'change bloc,' amid violence". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
50. ^ Schneider, Tal (13 May 2021). "Bennett rules out 'change gov't' due to Gaza unrest, renews talks with Likud". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
51. ^ "With his party's support, Bennett says he's heading into government with Lapid". The Times of Israel. 30 May 2021. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
52. ^ "Mansour Abbas signs coalition agreement to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu". The National. 2 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
53. ^ כהן, שירית אביטן; זקן, דני; טרבלסי, נבו (13 June 2021). "הכנסת הצביעה בעד: ממשלת בנט-לפיד יוצאת לדרך". Globes (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
54. ^ "כל הפנים והשמות: כך נראית הממשלה ה-36 של מדינת ישראל". Maariv (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
55. ^ "המשרד לנושאים אסטרטגיים נסגר: נחוץ או משרד החוץ?". מקור ראשון (in Hebrew). 19 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
56. ^ "Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid opens embassy in Abu Dhabi". The Guardian. 29 June 2021. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
57. ^ "השרה לשעבר יעל גרמן מונתה לשגרירת ישראל בצרפת". Kan 11 (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
58. ^ "לפיד במרוקו: היום אנחנו לא פוליטיקאים טובים, אנחנו הורים טובים". Kan 11 (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
59. ^ "איראן על ביקור לפיד בבחריין: "הנוכחות של ישראל באזור הרסנית"". Kan 11 (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
60. ^ "ישראל ושוודיה חידשו את היחסים בדרג שרי החוץ לראשונה מאז 2014". Kan 11 (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
61. ^ "Yair Lapid Officially Becomes New Prime Minister Of Israel". NDTV.com. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
62. ^ "יאיר לפיד נכנס לתפקידו כראש הממשלה ה-14 של ישראל". Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved 18 June 2023.
63. ^ "מבצע עלות השחר: כך חוסלו בכירי הג'יהאד האיסלאמי - דקה אחרי דקה". Maariv. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
64. ^ "בתום ספירת הקולות: גוש נתניהו זוכה ל-64 מנדטים, מרצ מחוץ לכנסת - וואלה! בחירות 2022". וואלה! (in Hebrew). 2 November 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
65. ^ "נתניהו חזר: ממשלת ישראל ה-37 הושבעה". סרוגים (in Hebrew). Retrieved 18 June 2023.
66. ^ "Leader of the Opposition". Knesset. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
67. ^ "Netanyahu offers Lapid, Gantz to join him in emergency unity government". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
68. ^ Keller-Lynn, Carrie. "Lapid urges emergency government, says PM can't manage war with extreme cabinet". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
69. ^ ‘Mishal Ham’ Talkshow (Hebrew – ReshetTV) on 14:00 on YouTube
70. ^ "המצע המדיני בטחוני". yeshatid.org.il (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 15 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
71. ^ Winer, Stuart (8 October 2013). "Lapid charms the lefties at NY's 92nd Street Y". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
72. ^ Hovel, Revital (20 October 2012). "Yair Lapid says he opposes occupation but will present platform in West Bank settlement". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
73. ^ "Israel's rising star". The Economist. 2 February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
74. ^ "Yair Lapid Calls for Return to Peace Talks". Forward. Reuters. 30 October 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
75. ^ Gil Stern,US helped Iran fund its next war against Israel,' Archived 5 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine The Jerusalem Post, 26 January 2016.
76. ^ Hoffman, Gil (12 March 2012). "Yair Lapid: Palestinians not ready to make peace". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
77. ^ "Boosting the West Bank's economy". The Economist. 1 June 2013. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
78. ^ Goldberg, Jeffrey (25 June 2015). "'Israel Can't Absorb 3.5 Million Palestinians and Remain a Jewish, Democratic State'". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
79. ^ Lapid, Yair (22 September 2015). "A New Strategic Vision for Israel". Tablet. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
80. ^ Hoffman, Gil (6 December 2017). "Lapid: World must recognize Israeli sovereignty over Golan, united Jerusalem as capital". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
81. ^ Friedman, Ron (6 March 2013). "Lapid takes on the religious status quo". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
82. ^ Sharon, Jeremy (4 September 2017). "New campaign reopens debate on civil marriage in Israel". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
83. ^ Cortellessa, Eric (12 July 2015). "Why is there no civil marriage in Israel?". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
84. ^ a b Hoffman, Gil (26 June 2017). "MK Oren vows to vote against conversion bill at risk of getting fired". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
85. ^ "MK Yair Lapid: "We have problems of the 21st century; we need solutions for the 21st century, with the leaders of the 21st century."". www.herzliyaconference.org. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
86. ^ a b "Lapid: Netanyahu is 'dangerously' aligning Israel with conservative Republicans". The Times of Israel. 19 May 2018. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
87. ^ Azulay, Moran (23 January 2013). "Lapid sets agenda for next government". Ynet. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
88. ^ Mazal Mualem (1 February 2013). "Lapid Plan for Ultra-Orthodox to Serve In Israeli Military Must Go Forward". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
89. ^ Edelman, Ofra (27 May 2013). "Lapid Threatens to Topple Government Unless ultra-Orthodox Dealt Equal Share of IDF Burden – National". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
90. ^ Lis, Jonathan (20 February 2014). "Lapid Praises Bill That Would Criminalize Haredi Draft-dodging". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
91. ^ Rosenberg, Yair (31 May 2013). "Lapid to Ultra-Orthodox: "We Need You"". Tablet. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
92. ^ Hoffman, Gil (15 December 2015). "Lapid begins campaign against BDS". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
93. ^ Lapid, Yair (18 October 2016). "How UNESCO erases history". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
94. ^ Lapid, Yair (20 June 2016). "The United Nations has lost it". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
95. ^ "PM slams 'baseless' Polish bill, says 'the Holocaust cannot be denied'". The Times of Israel. 27 January 2018. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
96. ^ "Lapid: Poland was complicit in the Holocaust, new bill 'can't change history". The Times of Israel. 27 January 2018. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
97. ^ Liphshiz, Cnaan (10 May 2019). "Yair Lapid's rhetoric on Poland feels like Holocaust denial, Auschwitz museum says". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
98. ^ "Auschwitz museum slams Lapid 'lie' after he claims Poles helped run death camps". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
99. ^ Oppenheim, Maya (18 February 2018). "Benjamin Netanyahu attacks Polish PM for saying Jews were among perpetrators of the Holocaust". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
100. ^ "Israel: Polish PM's 'Jewish perpetrators' Holocaust remark 'outrageous'". Deutsche Welle. 18 February 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
101. ^ "Memories After My Death | Yair Lapid | Macmillan". US Macmillan. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.

## External links[edit]

Yair Lapid at Wikipedia's sister projects

* Media from Commons
* News from Wikinews
* Quotations from Wikiquote
* Texts from Wikisource

* Official website
* Yair Lapid on the Knesset website
* Yair Lapid at IMDb

Party political offices

New office |  Leader of Yesh Atid
2012–present  | Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by

Yuval Steinitz

|  Minister of Finance
2013–2014  | Succeeded by

Benjamin Netanyahu
Acting

Vacant

Title last held by

Shelly Yachimovich |  Leader of the Opposition
2020–2021  | Succeeded by

Benjamin Netanyahu

Preceded by

Benny Gantz

|  Alternate Prime Minister of Israel
2021–2022  | Succeeded by

Naftali Bennett

Preceded by

Gabi Ashkenazi

|  Minister of Foreign Affairs
2021–2022  | Succeeded by

Eli Cohen

Preceded by

Naftali Bennett

|  Prime Minister of Israel
2022–2022  | Succeeded by

Benjamin Netanyahu

* v
* t
* e

Prime Ministers of Israel

* Ben-Gurion (1948–53)
* Sharett (1953–55)
* Ben-Gurion (1955–63)
* Eshkol (1963–69)
* Allon (acting, 1969)
* Meir (1969–74)
* Rabin (1974–77)
* Begin (1977–83)
* Shamir (1983–84)
* Peres (1984–86)
* Shamir (1986–92)
* Rabin (1992–95)
* Peres (1995–96)
* Netanyahu (1996–99)
* Barak (1999–2001)
* Sharon (2001–06)
* Olmert (2006–09)
* Netanyahu (2009–21)
* Bennett (2021–22)
* Lapid (2022)
* Netanyahu (2022—present)

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

Current members of the Knesset

Likud|

* Netanyahu
* Levin
* Gallant
* Ohana
* Barkat
* Dichter
* Israel Katz
* Karhi
* Danon
* Bitan
* Edelstein
* Revivo
* Distel-Atbaryan
* Vaturi
* Danino
* Gottlieb
* Milwidsky
* Bismuth
* Saada
* Dellal
* Gamliel
* Ofir Katz
* Golan
* Illouz
* Kallner
* Atiya
* Halevi
* Melaku
* Shekalim
* Shitrit
* Passal
* Guetta

Yesh Atid|

* Lapid
* Meir Cohen
* Elharrar
* Meirav Cohen
* Stern
* Mickey Levy
* Ben-Ari
* Ben-Barak
* Segalovich
* Toporovsky
* Shir
* Roll
* Lahav-Hertzanu
* Beliak
* Ron Katz
* Sarfati Harkavi
* Mazarsky
* Fridman
* Biton
* Tur-Paz
* Davidson
* Shiri
* Meron
* Levi

National Unity|

* Gantz
* Sa'ar
* Eizenkot
* Tamano-Shata
* Shasha-Biton
* Tropper
* Elkin
* Michael Biton
* Kahana
* Farkash-Hacohen
* Haskel
* Schuster

Shas|

* Deri
* Malchieli
* Arbel
* Azulai
* Abutbul
* Buso
* Taieb
* Betzalel
* Mishraki
* Malul
* Moshiashvili

NRP-RZ|

* Sofer
* Strook
* Rothman
* Waldiger
* Tal
* Solomon
* Sukkot

United Torah Judaism|

* Gafni
* Tessler
* Asher
* Eichler
* Pindrus
* Roth
* Baruchi

Yisrael Beiteinu|

* Lieberman
* Forer
* Sova
* Nir
* Malinovsky
* Amar
* Kushnir

Otzma Yehudit|

* Ben-Gvir
* Wasserlauf
* Almog Cohen
* Fogel
* Har-Melech
* Kroizer

United Arab List|

* Abbas
* Taha
* Alhwashla
* Khatib-Yassin
* Hujeirat

Hadash–Ta'al|

* Odeh
* Tibi
* Touma-Suleiman
* Cassif
* Atauna

Labor|

* Michaeli
* Lazimi
* Kariv
* Rayten

Noam|

* Maoz

* v
* t
* e

Leaders of the Opposition in Israel

Leader of the largest
opposition party|

* Ya'ari (1949–51)
* Bernstein (1951–52)
* Ya'ari (1952–55)
* Bernstein (1955)
* Begin (1955–67)
* Levin (1967–70)
* Begin (1970–77)
* Peres (1977–84)
* Ne'eman (1984–88)
* Aloni (1988–90)
* Peres (1990–92)
* Rabin (1992)
* Shamir (1992–93)
* Netanyahu (1993–96)
* Peres (1996–97)
* Barak (1997–99)
* Sharon (1999–2000)

Officially designated
Opposition Leader|

* Sharon (2000–01)
* Sarid (2001–03)
* Mitzna (2003)
* Itzik (2003)
* Peres (2003–05)
* T. Lapid (2005)
* Peretz (2005–06)
* Netanyahu (2006–09)
* Livni (2009–12)
* Mofaz (2012)
* Yachimovich (2012)
* Mofaz (2012–13)
* Yachimovich (2013)
* Herzog (2013–2018)
* Livni (2018–19)
* Yachimovich (2019)
* Y. Lapid (2020–21)
* Netanyahu (2021–22)
* Y. Lapid (2022–)

* v
* t
* e

Foreign Affairs Ministers of Israel

* Sharett (1948–56)
* Meir (1956–66)
* Eban (1966–74)
* Allon (1974–77)
* Dayan (1977–79)
* Shamir (1980–86)
* Peres (1986–88)
* Arens (1988–90)
* Levy (1990–92)
* Peres (1992–95)
* Barak (1995–96)
* Levy (1996–98)
* Sharon (1998–99)
* Levy (1999–2000)
* Ben-Ami (2000–01)
* Peres (2001–02)
* Netanyahu (2002–03)
* Shalom (2003–06)
* Livni (2006–09)
* Lieberman (2009–12)
* Netanyahu (2012–13)
* Lieberman (2013–15)
* Netanyahu (2015–19)
* Katz (2019–20)
* Ashkenazi (2020–21)
* Lapid (2021–22)
* Cohen (2022–24)
* Katz (2024–)

* v
* t
* e

Finance Ministers of Israel

* Kaplan (1948–52)
* Eshkol (1952–63)
* Sapir (1963–68)
* Sherf (1968–69)
* Sapir (1969–74)
* Rabinovitz (1974–77)
* Erlich (1977–79)
* Hurvitz (1979–81)
* Aridor (1981–83)
* Cohen-Orgad (1983–84)
* Moda'i (1984–86)
* Nissim (1986–88)
* Peres (1988–90)
* Shamir (1990)
* Moda'i (1990–92)
* Shochat (1992–96)
* Meridor (1996–97)
* Netanyahu (1997)
* Ne'eman (1997–98)
* Netanyahu (1998–99)
* Sheetrit (1999)
* Shochat (1999–2001)
* Shalom (2001–03)
* Netanyahu (2003–05)
* Olmert (2005–06)
* Hirschson (2006–07)
* Bar-On (2007–09)
* Steinitz (2009–13)
* Lapid (2013–14)
* Kahlon (2015–20)
* Katz (2020–21)
* Lieberman (2021–22)
* Smotrich (2022–)

Authority control databases

International|

* FAST
* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* France
* BnF data
* Germany
* Israel
* United States
* Greece
* Poland

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

People|

* Deutsche Synchronkartei

Other|

* IdRef

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template