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Who is Yair Lapid ? Israel’s new Leader: What you need to know
Yair Lapid is a 57-year-old Israeli politician, former television personality, and former journalist. Since May 17,2020 he is serving as the Leader of Opposition in Israel.
Lapid was born and raised in Tel Aviv to a writer mother and a journalist father.
He is married to journalist Lihi Lapid and has two children. He has another son from his first marriage.
He left journalism in 2012 and formed his political party ‘’Yesh Atid’. The main focus of the party, he said, was to address the economic concerns of the Israeli middle class.
His party won 19 seats in the 2013 elections and he formed a coalition government with Benjamin Netanyahu’s party.
Yair Lapid served as a Finance Minister of Israel from 15 March 2013 to 2 December 2014.
Israel's president has asked Yair Lapid, the leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, to try to form a government.
He will succeed Benjamin Netanyahu, who served as Israel’s Prime Minister for 12 years.
Lapid came in second in the March election held in Israel. After becoming the Prime Minister, he faces a big challenge to bridge the ideological differences between political parties.
"After two years of political paralysis, Israeli society is hurting. A unity government isn't a compromise or a last resort - it's a goal, it's what we need,” Lapid said in a statement.
