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Yair Lapid
A figure of the Israeli center who moved from journalism into politics, Yair Lapid founded Yesh Atid in 2012 and has led it ever since, advocating a liberal platform focused on the rule of law, fighting corruption and a more equitable sharing of military service.
After a brief term as head of government in 2022, he remains the main opposition figure to Netanyahu and allies with Naftali Bennett in 2026 within the Beyahad bloc, ahead of the October 27 election.
- Ideology
- A liberal Zionist centrist, an advocate of the rule of law and universal military service. The Beyahad bloc, formed with Bennett, is positioned further to the right than Yesh Atid alone.
- Current role
- Leader of Yesh Atid; No. 2 on the Beyahad / Together bloc's list, behind Naftali Bennett
- Born
- November 5, 1963Tel Aviv
Key takeaways
- 01
A former journalist and television host (Channels 1, 2 and 3), founder of Yesh Atid in 2012, which won 19 seats in its first election in 2013.
- 02
Finance minister (2013-2014), then alternate prime minister and foreign minister (2021-2022) in the “government of change,” before becoming prime minister from July 1 to December 29, 2022, the shortest non-interim term in Israel's history, marked by the maritime agreement with Lebanon (October 27, 2022).
- 03
Leader of the opposition since January 2023; concludes the Beyahad / Together alliance with Naftali Bennett on April 26, 2026, holding second place on its list.
- 04
In February 2026, he accuses Netanyahu of having falsified the minutes of an October 1, 2023 security meeting, six days before October 7, to conceal his preference for a civilian arrangement with Hamas rather than strikes.
- 05
He supports Israeli strikes against Iran in February 2026 (“a just war against evil”), then severely criticizes Netanyahu's handling of the ceasefire in April 2026 (“the greatest diplomatic disaster in our history”).
Controversies
Admitted in 2012 to a doctoral program at Bar-Ilan University without a bachelor's degree, in violation of university regulations. Access for those without a degree to this type of doctorate is abolished in early 2012, following a public controversy and a review by the Knesset Education Committee.
In May 2019, he states in an interview with the Polish website Onet that Poles participated in the creation and operation of extermination camps and handed Jews over to the Germans. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial describes these remarks as a “conscious lie.”
On September 26, 2026, he brings together Gadi Eisenkot, Yair Golan, Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman at his home in Tel Aviv. The five leaders pledge not to attack one another until the government is formed. Benny Gantz, who remained outside the initiative, publicly criticizes it. Netanyahu mocks it with a manipulated AI-generated image, falsely suggesting that Arab members of the Knesset attended the meeting.
Yair Lapid was born on November 5, 1963, in Tel Aviv, the son of journalist Tommy Lapid and novelist Shulamit Lapid. He had a long career in the media before entering politics in 2012.
He founded the Yesh Atid party in 2012 and served successively as finance minister (2013-2014), then foreign minister and alternate prime minister (2021-2022), before serving as prime minister himself from July 1 to December 29, 2022, the shortest term in Israel's history.
Having returned as leader of the opposition in January 2023, he remains one of Netanyahu's main opponents during the war in Gaza and the campaigns against Iran. On April 26, 2026, he allies with Naftali Bennett within the Beyahad bloc ahead of the October 27, 2026 election, in which he holds second place on the joint list.
Yair Lapid was born on November 5, 1963, in Tel Aviv, the son of journalist Tommy Lapid and novelist Shulamit Lapid. He left high school without a matriculation certificate (bagrut). He then had a long media career: in 1988, at age 25, he became editor-in-chief of Yedioth Tel Aviv, and he later hosted talk shows and wrote several books.
He left journalism for politics on January 8, 2012.
Yair Lapid founded the Yesh Atid party on April 30, 2012. In its first election, in January 2013, the party won a surprising 19 seats, and Lapid became Finance Minister. His budget policy drew criticism, and he was dismissed in late 2014. In the 2015 election, Yesh Atid fell to 11 seats. Lapid patiently rebuilt it from the opposition.
In June 2021, he became Foreign Minister and alternate Prime Minister in Naftali Bennett's government. He inaugurated Israel's embassy in Abu Dhabi, its consulate in Dubai, its embassy in Manama and its liaison office in Rabat. He succeeded Bennett as Prime Minister on July 1, 2022. His term, marked by the signing of a maritime agreement with Lebanon, lasted 181 days, the shortest in Israel's history.
Yair Lapid became opposition leader again in January 2023. During the Gaza war, he remained one of Netanyahu's main opponents. In February 2026, he accused Netanyahu of falsifying the record of a security meeting held on October 1, 2023, six days before the October 7 attack. According to Lapid, the goal was to hide Netanyahu's preference for a civilian arrangement with Hamas over strikes. Lapid called for a police investigation.
That same month, he backed the Israeli strikes on Iran, calling them "a just war against evil." In April 2026, he sharply criticized Netanyahu's handling of the ceasefire: "There has never been such a diplomatic disaster in all our history."
On April 26, 2026, Yair Lapid joined forces with Naftali Bennett to create the Together (Beyachad) electoral alliance. He is second on the joint list, which was unveiled on September 6.
In early September 2026, more than a dozen outgoing Yesh Atid MKs said they would not run on this list. Publicly, they spoke of making room for a new generation. The Israeli press, however, linked their departures to the small number of places left for Yesh Atid candidates after the merger with Bennett's team.
Introduction and biography
- Times of Israel No BA means no PhD for Yair Lapid · February 23, 2012
- Jewish News Auschwitz: Yair Lapid's claim of Polish 'cooperation' in Shoah is akin to denial · May 10, 2019
- Times of Israel Lapid: Police may need to probe Netanyahu's 'intentional forgery' of October 7 protocols · February 9, 2026
- KUTV (National News Desk) Opposition leader in Israel calls US-Iran ceasefire deal a 'political disaster' · April 8, 2026
- JNS Israeli opposition leaders sign cooperation pact to oust Netanyahu · September 27, 2026
Media career
- Globes Yair Lapid announces entry into politics · January 8, 2012
- St. Louis Jewish Light Veteran Israeli journalist Yair Lapid enters politics · January 9, 2012
- Jerusalem Post From TV anchor to politics - Who is Israel's Prime Minister Yair Lapid? · June 30, 2022
Yesh Atid and government
- Ynet Polls: Netanyahu reelected, Lapid surprises with 19 mandates · January 23, 2013
- Al Jazeera Israeli parties sign coalition agreements · March 15, 2013
- Globes Benjamin Netanyahu Fires Yair Lapid and Tzipi Livni · December 2, 2014
- Globes Naftali Bennett sworn in as Israel's 13th Prime Minister · June 13, 2021
- Al Jazeera Israel's Yair Lapid in the UAE on first official visit · June 29, 2021
- Israel Hayom Lapid: Israel will soon have embassy in Morocco, diplomatic mission in Bahrain · August 13, 2021
- Al Jazeera Israel foreign minister in Bahrain for landmark visit · September 30, 2021
- Ynetnews 'Good luck my brother,' Bennett tells Lapid as he hands over the premiership · June 30, 2022
- JNS WATCH: Israel signs maritime border deal with Lebanon · October 27, 2022
- Al Arabiya Benjamin Netanyahu sworn in as Israel's prime minister · December 29, 2022
Opposition leader during the war
- Times of Israel Lapid formally becomes opposition leader · January 2, 2023
- Times of Israel Lapid: Police may need to probe Netanyahu's 'intentional forgery' of October 7 protocols · February 9, 2026
- Jerusalem Post Lapid says Netanyahu falsified security protocols to deflect Oct. 7 blame, urges investigation · February 9, 2026
- Al-Monitor Israeli opposition leader Lapid backs strikes on Iran, calls for regime change · February 28, 2026
- KUTV (National News Desk) Opposition leader in Israel calls US-Iran ceasefire deal a 'political disaster' · April 8, 2026
The Together (Beyachad) alliance
- Al Jazeera Former Israeli PMs Bennett, Lapid unite to challenge Netanyahu in elections · April 26, 2026
- JNS Bennett, Lapid unite ahead of 2026 elections · April 27, 2026
- Ynetnews Yesh Atid's downfall: Nearly half of Lapid's lawmakers are heading for the exits · September 2, 2026
- Jerusalem Post Yesh Atid's Michal Shir quits Knesset race as party faces growing wave of exits · September 4, 2026
- Ynetnews First 10 spots in Yachad party: Naftali Bennett's representatives to occupy positions 3, 5, 7, 8 and 10 · September 5, 2026
- Times of Israel (FR) Naftali Bennett dévoile la composition de la liste du parti d'opposition BeYahad · September 6, 2026