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...
Jul 11, 2026
Far Left
Lapid criticizes the government's handling of the economy and security.
Hadash sees Lapid as insufficiently leftist, but appreciates his opposition to the current coalition.
Jul 11, 2026
Far Left
Opposition leader demanding new elections and criticizing government's hostage handling.
Hadash sees him as insufficiently left but welcomes his opposition to the coalition's extremism.
Jul 10, 2026
Lean Left
Opposition leader Lapid leads Knesset debates against the judicial overhaul and meets with protest leaders.
Praised by Labor/Meretz as a key democratic voice, though some question his centrist compromises.
Jul 10, 2026
Far Left
Lapid challenged Netanyahu in a Knesset debate over the failing hostage negotiations.
Hadash sees Lapid as a less damaging alternative but still too willing to support military operations.
Jul 10, 2026
Lean Left
Lapid leads the opposition, criticizing the government's handling of the war and the economy.
He is seen as a centrist alternative but criticized for not offering a strong enough left-wing vision on peace and social justice.
Jul 10, 2026
Far Left
Lapid is positioning Yesh Atid as the center-left alternative, criticizing Netanyahu's security mismanagement but offering vague policy.
Hadash views Lapid as insufficiently bold on Palestinian rights, but a useful ally against the far-right.
Jul 9, 2026
Lean Left
Lapid leads the opposition and participates in protests against the government.
Labour-Meretz sees him as a key democratic resistance figure, though some urge a more forceful stance.
Jul 9, 2026
Far Left
Lapid has been vocal in opposition, calling for a ceasefire and renewed negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.
Hadash sees Lapid as a flawed but necessary centrist voice, though they wish he would adopt stronger anti-occupation stances.
Jul 7, 2026
Center
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid condemned the political commission of inquiry as a cover-up and led the opposition boycott of the vote.
He is the leading voice for a transparent, non-political state commission to investigate the October 7 failures.
Jul 7, 2026
Lean Left
Opposition leader holding rallies and trying to forge a united front against the coalition.
Praised for his opposition role but criticized by Labor/Meretz for not being aggressive enough in coalition talks.