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...
Sep 20, 2026
Far Left
Lapid has been attacking the government over the Haredi draft exemption and calling for a new coalition.
Hadash criticizes Lapid for focusing on Haredi exemptions while ignoring the broader inequality facing Arab citizens and the occupation.
Sep 19, 2026
Center
As Yesh Atid leader, he is the central figure positioning the party for the 2026 election amid the Qatar probe and coalition arithmetic debates.
Yesh Atid supporters see Lapid as the only viable alternative to Netanyahu who can hold the centre together and build a functioning coalition, which is exactly what the 'Malchud 61' article warns is the real challenge.
Sep 19, 2026
Lean Left
Lapid is leading the opposition's criticism of the government's handling of the hostage crisis and the Haredi draft law.
He is the main parliamentary voice Labor and Meretz voters look to, though many on the left doubt whether Yesh Atid will ever fully break with the Netanyahu-era playbook.
Sep 19, 2026
Far Left
Lapid leads the opposition but has been criticized for not offering a strong alternative on Gaza and judicial issues.
Hadash sees him as too centrist and unwilling to break with consensus on the occupation, disappointing left-wing voters.
Sep 18, 2026
Far Right
The Yesh Atid leader is not named today, but his party's secularist agenda underpins the Hiddush petition and opposition to haredi funding.
Religious Zionists see Lapid as the architect of anti-haredi and anti-religious legislation, and his continued push to cut funding for yeshivas makes him a primary political adversary.
Sep 18, 2026
Center
Yesh Atid leader is facing pressure as Eisenkot's jabs expose divisions within the anti-Netanyahu camp.
Yesh Atid's base wants Lapid to hold the center-left together while distinguishing itself from the National Unity and Yisrael Beytenu rivalry.
Sep 18, 2026
Lean Left
Lapid leads the opposition but faces criticism for failing to coordinate a unified anti-Netanyahu front.
Labor/Meretz are disappointed by his centrist caution and refusal to commit to a clear left-wing bloc.
Sep 18, 2026
Far Left
Lapid is trying to position Yesh Atid as the main opposition to Netanyahu, but is struggling to connect with Arab voters.
Hadash views Lapid as a centrist who prioritizes Jewish Israeli concerns and refuses to take a strong stance against the occupation.
Sep 16, 2026
Lean Left
The opposition leader is facing criticism from the left for coordinating parliamentary tactics with Benny Gantz's National Unity instead of staking out a distinct center-left position.
Labor and Meretz are frustrated that Lapid keeps drifting rightward, blurring the line between opposition and government on the Palestinian issue.
Sep 16, 2026
Far Left
Facing pressure to enter Netanyahu's government in a unity deal, but so far refusing.
Hadash criticizes him for not ruling out unity with Netanyahu, which would legitimize the far-right and undermine Arab-Jewish partnership.