Yair Lapid Unveils Yesh Atid Knesset Candidates Amidst Party Departures

Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid presented his slate of candidates for the upcoming Knesset elections on Saturday night. The list will run as part of the 'Achva' (Together) alliance with Naftali Bennett's party. MK Merav Ben Ari is slated to head the list, followed by retired Major General Noam Tibon, who recently joined the party, along with Merav Cohen, Ram Ben Barak, and Vladimir Belyak.

This announcement follows a wave of departures from Yesh Atid in recent weeks, with numerous veteran lawmakers, including party founders Mickey Levy, Meir Cohen, and Karin Elharrar, opting not to seek re-election. These decisions are reportedly due to projections of a significant decrease in the party's projected seat count.

The combined 'Achva' list is currently polling at around 12 seats, a considerable drop from Yesh Atid's previous showing of 24 seats, which made it the second-largest party. Due to the joint list, only the top six positions are considered realistically attainable.

Lapid expressed confidence in a Facebook post, describing his team as a "tough group" capable of navigating difficult times to build a better future. He asserted that the party has demonstrated an alternative path for Israel and secured its place in the country's leadership for years to come.

Several outgoing lawmakers, including Meir Cohen, Karin Elharrar, Elazar Stern, Mickey Levy, Michal Shir, Tatiana Mazarsky, and Debi Biton, will remain active within the party despite not running. Other former members who have recently left the Knesset or announced they will not run include Yaron Levy, Boaz Toporovsky, Ron Katz, and Adi Azouz.