Lapid tries to become a statesman - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Mazal Mualem

Mazal Mualem

Aug 19, 2014

Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid (L) inspects the damage inside a house following a rocket attack by militants from the Gaza Strip on the southern Israeli town of Sderot, on July 21, 2014. More than 10 militants from Gaza were shot dead after infiltrating southern Israel, the army's official spokesman said, as the UN Security Council called for an "immediate ceasefire" as Israel pressed on with a blistering assault on Gaza on Monday taking the Palestinian death toll above 500. AFP PHOTO / JACK GUEZ — Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid (L) inspects the damage inside a house following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Sderot, July 21, 2014. — JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images

עִברִית

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) and Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon (L) attend a news conference while Israeli military chief Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz speaks in Tel Aviv July 28, 2014. Palestinian fighters slipped into an Israeli village from the Gaza Strip and fought a gun battle with troops on Monday as an unofficial truce called for the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival disintegrated. The incident was not the only breach of the fragile truce. Eight children and two adults were killed by a bl

How Israel's political parties headhunt generals

Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) stands with Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat (R) and Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon outside the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem January 21, 2013. Netanyahu made an election eve appeal to wavering supporters to "come home", showing concern over a forecast far-right surge that would keep him in power but weaken him politically. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3CQJU

Bibi faces challengers for prime minister position

Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) speaks with Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon after an air force pilots' graduation ceremony at Hatzerim air base in southern Israel June 26, 2014. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS) - RTR3VXQB

Pushed aside by war, Israel's social justice agenda returns

Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - FEBRUARY 05: Yair Lapid leader of the Israeli Yesh Atid party (L) and Naftali Bennett, head of Israel's Jewish Home party attend the swearing-in ceremony of the 19th Knesset, the new Israeli parliament, on February 5, 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel. The 120 members included a record 48 new law makers. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

Israeli election season starts early

Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics