Lapid’s tenure at the helm of the country could be quite short, as he takes over an interim government in the run-up to the November 1st national elections. But the new prime minister seemed ready to make the most of a potentially short term. “We will do the best we can for a Jewish, democratic state, good and strong and prosperous, because that is the job and it is bigger than all of us,” Lapid said at a handover ceremony with outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Thursday afternoon. On Friday, the first day of his rule, the first item on Lapid’s agenda is a meeting with Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet security service, at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv. Shortly afterwards, the new prime minister will hold a meeting to discuss “the prisoners and the ONE” – a reference to the two Israeli men and the remains of two Israeli soldiers held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Get the Times of Israel Daily E-mail and never miss our top stories By registering, you agree to the terms The sensitive issue made headlines once again this week after Hamas released a video showing Israeli prisoner Hisham al-Sayed stuck in an oxygen mask – his first image since moving to Gaza in 2015. Hamas It is also believed to hold the Avera Mengistu, as well as the remains of soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin. Talks about their release have stalled repeatedly over the years. The then Minister of Finance Yair Lapid meets the then US Vice President Joe Biden in Washington, DC, in 2013. (Courtesy / Archive) In the early days of his term, Lapid is expected to receive congratulatory phone calls from various world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, who is due to arrive in Israel in less than two weeks. Lapid is also scheduled to make a brief trip to Paris on July 5, where he will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. On Sunday, Lapid is expected to convene the first weekly cabinet meeting of his prime minister. Bennett – who announced on Wednesday that he would not run in the next election – will remain in government as deputy prime minister. He will also continue to be responsible for the country’s policy in Iran. Incoming Prime Minister Yair Lapid (left) briefed by Naftali Bennett’s predecessor in the Prime Minister’s Office, 30 June 2022 (Kobi Gideon / GPO) On Thursday, Lapid announced the full potential of his staff as he prepares to hit the ground running. His prime minister’s office will be headed by a woman for the first time in Israeli history. Naama Schultz, a longtime aide to Yesh Atid leader, will become director general of the Prime Minister’s Office as soon as Lapid takes office. Schultz served as head of Lapid’s office when he was deputy prime minister, and as an adviser when he was finance minister. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett briefs Yair Lapid’s successor on PM 30 June 2022 (Haim Zach / GPO) Lapid brings in a number of other loyalists, including longtime adviser Yair Zivan as his diplomatic adviser and one of his longest-serving associates, Dani Vesely, as chief of staff. But in a nod, Lapid retains four key positions from Bennett’s prime minister: Shalom Shlomo as cabinet secretary, Avi Gil as military secretary, Eyal Hulata as national security adviser and Keren Haijoff as his international spokesman. Archive: From right to left: Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz attend the first meeting of the new cabinet at the Knesset in Jerusalem on June 13, 2021. (Yonatan) After the handover ceremony with Bennett on Thursday, Lapid and his wife Lihi met with President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal at the Presidential Palace. Herzog congratulated the incoming Prime Minister and offered him “his help and support, as I did with any other Prime Minister, and the same with you.” Just entered politics a decade ago, the center-right former TV presenter will be the first non-right-wing prime minister since Ehud Barak ou’s oust in 2001 and one of the few without significant military experience. Speaking on the side of Bennett when the couple announced earlier this month that the government would fall, Lapid promised to rule from a position of unity and make good use of his time in power. “What we need to do today is return to the concept of Israeli unity,” Lapid told a news conference. “Let us not let the dark forces separate us from within. “To remind ourselves that we love each other, we love our country.” He said he would not ignore financial and security issues during his transition as prime minister. “Even if we go to the polls in a few months, the challenges we face will not wait. “We must address the cost of living, campaign against Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, and stand up to the forces that threaten to turn Israel into a non-democratic country.” He closed his statements by saying: “Only together will we prevail”. Carrie Keller-Lynn contributed to this report. It is not (only) for you. Times of Israel support is not a transaction for an online service such as subscribing to Netflix. The ToI community is reaching out to people like you who are interested in a common good: ensuring that Israel’s balanced, responsible coverage continues to be available to millions around the world, free of charge. Of course, we will remove all ads from your page and give you access to some amazing community-only content. But your support gives you something deeper than that: the pride of being involved in something that really matters. Join the community Times of Israel Join our community Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing it You are a devoted reader We’re really glad you read X Times of Israel articles last month. That’s why we started the Times of Israel ten years ago – to provide demanding readers like you with the coverage they need to read about Israel and the Jewish world. So now we have a request. Unlike other media, we have not created a paywall. However, as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom the Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel. For just $ 6 a month you can support our quality journalism by enjoying Times of Israel WITHOUT ADVERTISING, as well as access to exclusive content available only to members of the Times of Israel Community. Thanks, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of the Times of Israel Subscribe to our community Subscribe to our community Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing it
