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 3, 2026
Lean Left
Lapid leads opposition efforts against the judicial overhaul and calls for a unity government.
Praised by Labor/Meretz for his vocal defense of the Supreme Court, but criticized for not forming a more cohesive anti-coalition bloc.
Jul 3, 2026
Far Left
Lapid leads the opposition, pushing for a hostage deal and new elections, but remains hawkish on security.
Hadash sees Lapid as more palatable than Netanyahu but still unwilling to end occupation or recognize Palestinian rights.
Jul 3, 2026
Lean Left
Lapid leads opposition protests against the judicial overhaul, calling for national dialogue.
Many in Meretz respect his opposition efforts but criticize him for being too willing to compromise with coalition moderates.
Jul 2, 2026
Lean Left
Lapid leads the opposition calls for a snap election, arguing that the current government is incapable of securing the hostages or ending the war.
Lapid is the main political alternative for Labor and Meretz voters, though they remain critical of his centrist compromises and want a clearer commitment to a two-state solution.
Jul 1, 2026
Lean Left
Lapid leads opposition calls for a comprehensive ceasefire and renewed diplomatic track with Palestinians.
Praised by Labor/Meretz as the clearest alternative voice advocating for liberal democracy and peace talks.
Jun 30, 2026
Far Left
Lapid is positioning himself as a potential alternative leader, but his centrist stance on Gaza draws criticism from the left.
Hadash views Lapid as insufficiently anti-occupation, criticizing his support for the war while opposing Netanyahu's coalition.
Jun 30, 2026
Lean Left
Lapid leads opposition attacks on the government's judicial overhaul and economic mismanagement, calling for early elections.
Labor/Meretz see him as the most viable centrist challenger but criticize his past record on social spending and settlements.
Jun 30, 2026
Far Left
Lapid calls for a ceasefire deal and early elections, positioning himself as a centrist alternative to Netanyahu.
Hadash appreciates Lapid's stance on ending the war but criticizes his past centrism and failure to challenge the occupation fundamentally.
Jun 28, 2026
Lean Left
Leads opposition to the judicial overhaul and calls for a unity government.
Lapid is praised for rallying centrist and leftist forces, but criticized for not offering a more robust social-democratic alternative.
Jun 28, 2026
Far Left
Lapid is organizing parliamentary obstruction and rallying international pressure against the coalition.
Hadash criticizes Lapid for not doing enough to proactively protect Palestinian rights and for maintaining centrist ambiguity.