Page 3 Profile: Yair Lapid, Israeli politician
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Why is he in the news?
Mr Lapid, a well-known television personality in Israel, founded the centrist Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party only last year. Yet the charismatic former journalist and his colleagues defied expectations to win 19 seats in this week's election, becoming the second-largest party in parliament. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud-Beitenu alliance took 31 of 120 seats, and he is expected to form a new coalition in the coming weeks.
Will Lapid be a minister?
Following the exit polls, Mr Netanyahu telephoned Mr Lapid and offered to work with his rival, saying: "We have the opportunity to do great things together." But Mr Lapid is determined not to be marginalised or turned into a junior coalition partner. He has demanded a reversal of the law which allows Orthodox Jewish seminary students to defer military service, as well as a concerted effort to revive peace talks with the Palestinians – something Mr Netanyahu has not been particularly keen on.
Why did his party do so well?
It's easy to compare Mr Lapid with our very own Robert Kilroy-Silk – both were popular television figures who went on to found political parties. But whereas Kilroy-Silk's right-wing Veritas party foundered, Mr Lapid is riding a wave of success. The 49-year-old began his career as a military correspondent for the Israel Defence Forces' magazine, worked his way up to becoming a newspaper editor and moved into television. Like his father, who went from being a journalist to leading the Shinui party, his secular policies have attracted considerable support among the middle-clases.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments