Yair Lapid, a former journalist who is now the prime minister of Israel
Key Takeaways:
- As Israel prepares for its sixth election in four years in November, the country's temporary prime minister has been named: the journalist-turned-politician Yair Lapid.
- Naftali Bennett, who served as Lapid's predecessor, announced he would not seek reelection after the eight-party coalition he led encountered ideological disagreement.
The journalist-turned-politician Yair Lapid has been appointed as Israel's interim prime minister as the nation gears up for its sixth election in four years in November. The 58-year-old politician, largely recognized for forming the coalition that ended Benjamin Netanyahu's record 12-year run as prime minister, is now preparing for the November elections to prevent Netanyahu from forming a government again.
However, Lapid, who is regarded as a guy of many skills, has, for the time being, attracted interest from outside the country despite the political unrest that is currently occurring. He was well-known for hosting one of the most popular discussion shows in the 1990s, making him a household figure in Israel.
Being the leader of this party, "Yesh Atid," the columnist-commentator for "Being Israeli," is also reported to have developed a strong reputation in public service over ten years. Before transitioning to television, he had written songs and appeared in movies, according to a BBC story.
While performing in Hollywood, he also briefly worked for Israeli-American businessman Arnon Milchan. He is also rumored to be an amateur boxer.
The multi-talented leader has also written for film. In 2005, he wrote the popular Israeli TV series "War Room," which was centered on a covert organization of top-tier spies and military personnel. The show's basis was that they handled national emergencies as professionals, not as politicians.
In the November polls, Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving PM, is Lapid's main competitor. Analysts are interested in seeing if Lapid might repeat his success in 2021.
Lapid's predecessor, Naftali Bennett, has declared he won't run for office again after the eight-party coalition he led experienced ideological conflict. Following a unanimous decision to dissolve the Israeli parliament on Thursday, Lapid, who had previously served as foreign minister and still does so, assumed the position of acting prime minister.
Early polls indicate that the results of the November 1 will not be definitive. Still, for Lapid, the visit to Jerusalem by US President Joe Biden is a top priority in the coming weeks.