MK Uri Ariel of Jewish Home defended Yair Lapid in an interview in the hareidi newspaper Mevaser, published Friday, saying that the Yesh Atid chairman is not trying to close down yeshivahs.
"The panic among the Haredi community is excessive," said Ariel. "Lapid himself does not wish to eliminate the 'teaching profession." He is not coming to close the yeshivahs. He recognizes the study of Torah."