Lapid Culls Yesh Atid List, Angering Loyalists Ahead of Election
Opposition leader Yair Lapid has significantly reshaped the Yesh Atid party's Knesset list, removing nearly 20 incumbent lawmakers, an act described as "erasing his life's work" 13 years after founding the party. This drastic move has jeopardized the political careers and future parliamentary aspirations of many, including prominent figures like Karin Elharrar and Mickey Levy. Some lawmakers have sought opportunities elsewhere, such as Yoav Segalovitz joining Ra'am or Elazar Stern joining the new "Yashar!" party, while others have departed disappointed.
Lapid's justifications of a "graceful parting" and "generational change" are reportedly failing to appease those affected. The party, which secured 24 seats in the November 2022 elections, now faces a diminished presence in parliament, with only six or seven realistically positioned lawmakers after its merger with Naftali Bennett's faction. This consolidation has led to internal friction and a decline in poll numbers, with recent surveys showing the joint "Bamah" (Together) list polling around 12-13 seats.
Internal criticism suggests the party's decline began when Lapid refused to join a government with Itamar Ben-Gvir following the October 7th attacks, and that his failure to unseat Prime Minister Netanyahu has led to public disillusionment. The merger with Bennett, initially seen as a strategic move to boost their electoral prospects, has seemingly backfired, alienating voters on both the right and left, with some supporters reportedly shifting to Gadi Eisenkot.
Lapid's selection of candidates for the top spots on the list, including former IDF General Noam Tibon at number six, has also drawn criticism. Notably, Ram Ben-Barak, a former deputy head of the Mossad and chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, was placed at a precarious 12th position, a move speculated to be retribution for his past challenge to Lapid's leadership. Several prominent figures who were removed from the list, including Meir Cohen, Mickey Levy, and Karin Elharrar, were absent from the list's official launch event.
