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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 22 June 2022
Lapid, set to be Israel’s next premier, faces critical test

By JOSEF FEDERMAN as head of a new centrist Yesh Atid dropped to 11 sition for the first time in 12 vember.
Associated Press party popular with middle- seats in the 2015 elections. years. The coming months pres-
JERUSALEM (AP) — In a class Israelis. Lapid found himself in the Although Lapid was the ent great risk and great
10-year political career, Is- opportunity.
rael’s Yair Lapid has trans- Once again, Netanyahu’s
formed himself from an Likud party appears to be
upstart political novice to the front-runner. And once
a feisty opposition leader again, Netanyahu’s lead-
to the savvy operator who ership style and legal woes
toppled Prime Minister Ben- are likely to be high on vot-
jamin Netanyahu. ers’ minds.
Next week, he is expected While Lapid is sure to face
to assume his biggest role relentless attacks from Ne-
yet as the new prime min- tanyahu, who has tried to
ister. portray him as a lightweight
Following the government’s who betrayed Israel’s secu-
decision to dissolve parlia- rity by allying with an Arab
ment, Lapid, now foreign faction, he will do so from
minister, is set to take office the perch of the prime min-
as caretaker prime minister ister’s office.
until elections in the fall. It After serving as foreign
will be a critical test for La- minister for the past year,
pid, 58, who will try to con- he will have even more op-
vince Israelis he is worthy of portunities to strengthen his
the top office as he takes international standing. He
on a resurgent Netanyahu. is set to host President Joe
“A year ago, we started Biden on a visit next month
the process of rebuilding, and will have the opportu-
and now: we’re carrying it nity to speak at the United
on, and carrying it on to- Nations General Assembly
gether,” Lapid declared in September.
late Monday as he stood Lapid spoke to U.S. Secre-
alongside his main coali- tary of State Antony Blinken
tion partner, Prime Minister Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid speaks during a joint statement with Prime Minister Naftali on Tuesday to prepare for
Naftali Bennett. Bennett, at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem, Monday, June 20, 2022. Biden’s visit, the Foreign
Officially, the two men were Associated Press Ministry said.
announcing the end of “The visit will have signifi-
their year-old government cant implications for the re-
an alliance of eight diverse He promised economic re- opposition and appeared mastermind of the alliance, gion and the fight against
parties that was severely lief, an end to controversial to be on the way to be- he cemented the deal by Iran, as well as immense
weakened by months of in- draft exemptions for semi- coming the latest in a long agreeing to rotate the job potential to significantly im-
fighting and rebellion. But in nary students and a more line of centrist politicians to of prime minister with Ben- prove regional stability and
many ways, Lapid sounded moderate approach to the flame out after early suc- nett a move that was seen security,” it said.
like he was beginning his Palestinians. cess. by many as selfless and As caretaker prime minister,
next campaign. Unlike the right-wing parties But Lapid managed to re- statesmanlike. Lapid took he is unlikely to launch any
“Even if we are going to that dominate Israel’s po- invent himself. He formed on the post of foreign min- major military operations
elections in a few months, litical system, Lapid favors an alliance with former mili- ister. or bold peace initiatives
the challenges we face will peace talks leading to an tary chief Benny Gantz that The coalition members with the Palestinians. If La-
not wait,” he said, pointing eventual two-state solution came close to toppling Li- spanned the Israeli political pid can keep things quiet
to Israel’s high cost of living with the Palestinians, al- kud in three consecutive spectrum, with little binding and avoid controversy, he
and security challenges in though it’s unclear if he will elections. them together beyond op- could be well-positioned
Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. ever have the kind of man- Those elections, focused on position to Netanyahu. The for the next election.
In a swipe at Netanyahu, date needed to engage in Netanyahu’s divisive per- government made history “Lapid has to work now at
who is on trial for corrup- such a process. sonality and fitness to rule, by being the first to include looking prime ministerial,”
tion charges, he vowed to In 2013, he led his new Yesh all ended inconclusively. an Arab party. wrote Anshel Pfeffer, a col-
“stand against the forces Atid party to a surprisingly Moving to end the dead- The coalition got off to a umnist at the Haaretz daily.
threatening to turn Israel strong showing in parlia- lock, Gantz briefly joined strong start passing the first “His new post, from next
into a nondemocratic mentary elections. Yesh forces with Netanyahu in national budget in several week on, as interim prime
country.” Netanyahu, be- Atid finished as the second- 2020 leaving Lapid as op- years, navigating a pair of minister is his greatest asset
lieving he is the victim of largest party, with 19 seats position leader and a vocal coronavirus waves and im- going into the election.”q
a political witch hunt, has in the 120-member parlia- government critic. proving relations with the
made clear he intends to ment. When the country went U.S. and Arab allies.
take on the country’s legal Lapid became finance back to the polls in early Ultimately, ideological dif-
and law-enforcement es- minister, a difficult and of- 2021, Yesh Atid once again ferences caused it to un-
tablishment if he returns to ten thankless task. While surged and emerged as ravel.
power. marking some successes, the second-largest party in Parliament is expected
A former author, columnist, his key promises of lower- parliament. to dissolve itself in a series
news anchor, bank pitch- ing the cost of living and In a stroke of creative diplo- of votes over the coming
man and amateur boxer, bringing down housing macy and political savvy, days. Once that happens,
Lapid left a successful ca- prices failed to materialize. Lapid cobbled together a Lapid takes over as care-
reer as a media personal- Netanyahu eventually fired new coalition that pushed taker prime minister until
ity to enter politics in 2012 him for insubordination. Netanyahu into the oppo- elections in October or No- facebook.com/arubatoday/