Lapid Says New Bennett Alliance Will Drive Major Reforms in Next Government

At the opening of a faction meeting for Bennett’s new alliance, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said on Monday that his partnership with Naftali Bennett is aimed at forming a government that will carry out the major reforms many politicians have avoided. He said the goal is to build the next government around a different approach to power and public service.

Lapid said Israel needs to be repaired by drafting ultra-Orthodox men, restoring security to the streets, lowering the cost of living, passing a constitution, and rebuilding Israel’s foreign relations. “It is possible,” he said, “only if there is a government here that works for the citizens, not for itself.”

He said Bennett and he met the day before with the party’s local campaign leaders from across the country and told them they were pleased with the alliance. In his words, this is the right path, a unification of the center behind a leader from the liberal right.

Lapid also framed the campaign in simple terms: work hard, mean well, fight for every vote, never forget that politics is not for personal gain, and love the country you are fighting for. He said that is the formula for victory and also for a good government.