Meet the man who might replace Netanyahu

Ben Caspit

Sep 7, 2016

Israeli MP and chairperson of center-right Yesh Atid party, Yair Lapid, casts his ballot at a polling station with his wife Lihi (R) on March 17, 2015 in Tel Aviv. Voting polls opened for unpredictable elections to determine whether Israelis still want incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as leader, or will seek change after six years. AFP PHOTO / GIL COHEN MAGEN (Photo credit should read GIL COHEN MAGEN/AFP/Getty Images) — Knesset member Yair Lapid, who leads the center-right Yesh Atid party, casts his ballot at a polling station with his wife, Lihi (R), March 17, 2015. — GIL COHEN MAGEN/AFP/Getty Images

عربي
עִברִית

For the first time since announcing his entry into politics in January 2012, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid finds himself leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the polls. A survey taken Sept. 6 and reported on by Channel 2 gives Lapid 24 mandates, if elections were held today, compared to 22 for Netanyahu and Likud.

While this does not automatically turn Lapid into the next prime minister, it does show that Lapid has successfully completed the most important mission he has faced in recent years: to become a legitimate candidate for the position of prime minister of Israel. Lapid is already there, in a big way. His place in the ring as rival contender to Netanyahu is assured. As they say in the world of sports, Lapid has made it to the finals.