Yair Lapid
Yair Lapid is an Israeli politician of the centrist Yesh Atid party and a former journalist who has been the Leader of the Opposition since January 2023, having previously served in that role from 2020 to 2021. He had also previously served as the prime minister of Israel from 1 July to 29 December 2022, the second alternate prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Naftali Bennett from 2021 to 2022, and also as the Minister of Finance under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from 2013 to 2014. He is also the leader of Yesh Atid since the party's founding in 2012.
Standing...
Stories...
Oct 10, 2026
Center
As Yesh Atid leader, he is implicitly the central figure in the opposition's push for elections and alternative governance.
Yesh Atid supporters see Lapid as the only viable alternative to Netanyahu, and they are eager for him to unite the opposition and force early elections.
Oct 10, 2026
Lean Left
Opposition leader failed to block the budget after two Yesh Atid MKs abstained, handing Netanyahu a victory.
Labor and Meretz blame Lapid for not coordinating a unified opposition strategy and for refusing to cede the opposition leadership to a rotation, which they see as egotism that keeps the right in power.
Oct 10, 2026
Far Left
Lapid is facing pressure to clarify Yesh Atid's position on a ceasefire and on joining a future coalition with the far right.
Hadash criticizes Lapid for refusing to rule out sitting with Ben-Gvir and for treating Palestinian rights as a bargaining chip rather than a red line.
Oct 9, 2026
Lean Left
Lapid is positioning Yesh Atid as the main opposition alternative and criticising the government's handling of the hostage negotiations.
Meretz and Labor activists are frustrated that Lapid's centrist messaging soft-pedals the occupation and avoids committing to a two-state framework, even as they need him for a united bloc.
Oct 9, 2026
Far Left
Lapid leads the opposition in the Knesset and has been critical of the government's handling of the war and judicial overhaul.
Hadash views him as a centrist who talks about democracy but refuses to condemn the occupation or join a real left bloc.
Oct 8, 2026
Center
As Yesh Atid leader, Lapid is the opposition's leading voice demanding a state commission of inquiry into October 7 on the third anniversary.
Yesh Atid supporters expect Lapid to keep the pressure on Netanyahu to establish a state commission of inquiry, and to frame the anniversary as a moment of accountability rather than mere commemoration.
Oct 8, 2026
Lean Left
Yesh Atid has been coordinating with Labor and Meretz on a no-confidence motion and pushing for a state commission of inquiry into October 7 failures.
Labor and Meretz see Lapid as a necessary but insufficient ally, and are frustrated he has not committed to a full electoral merger or to prioritizing the hostage deal over coalition politics.
Oct 8, 2026
Far Left
Opposition leader criticizing Netanyahu but offering no real alternative on occupation.
Hadash criticizes Lapid for centrism and refusal to support Palestinian rights or oppose apartheid.
Oct 6, 2026
Center
Lapid responded to the British threat to expel 27 Israeli diplomats, saying 'to fight with the entire world is not a policy.'
Yesh Atid sees Lapid as the responsible opposition leader warning that Netanyahu and Sa'ar's diplomatic vandalism is isolating Israel.
Oct 6, 2026
Lean Left
Leader of the opposition, positioning Yesh Atid for early elections
Labor and Meretz view him as a potential ally but criticize his failure to unite the center-left