Amidst the relative silence that surrounds the political system during this period of the Knesset recess, the news of Yesh Atid’s intention to hold elections for the leadership of the party stood out when Knesset member Ram Ben Barak announced that he would run against the eternal speaker Yair Lapid. In his weekly column in “Yediot Ahronoth,” political commentator Amit Segal writes that “Lapid will end 2023 as the new-old-new chairman of Yesh Atid.”
Yair Lapid, known for his strong influence within the party, seems poised to regain his position as the party’s leader. Commentator Amit Segal references a sketch about Beitar, a well-known Israeli soccer team, to illustrate Lapid’s control and power within the party. Segal explains, “Like in a sketch about Beitar, he determines who the players will be, what the weather will be like, who the judges will be, and what the result will be.” Lapid’s position as the leader of the bloc gives him significant control over the party’s future.
The past year has not been kind to Lapid, and he now seeks renewed legitimacy as a party rather than a movement led by a single individual. Returning to the center stage of Israeli politics is crucial for him. By winning the party leadership elections, Lapid aims to showcase that Yesh Atid is a powerful and organized political force in Israel.
However, Lapid’s ambitions don’t stop at the party level. Commentator Amit Segal highlights the importance Lapid places on the upcoming mayoral elections in Tel Aviv. Yesh Atid member Orna Barbibai is running for the position of mayor, and Lapid sees her potential victory as a significant step towards conquering the entire state of Israel.
As Lapid prepares to face off against Ram Ben Barak in the party leadership elections, all eyes will be on Yesh Atid. Lapid’s reestablishment as the party’s leader and his focus on winning the mayoral elections in Tel Aviv could potentially reshape the landscape of Israeli politics. The outcome of these events will have a lasting impact on the direction of the party and its influence in Israeli society.
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