Yair Lapid
Yair LapidMiriam Alster/Flash 90

At a cultural event in central Israeli city Ness Ziona Saturday, Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid once again addressed the unity deal established last Wednesday between Labor Chairman Yitzhak Herzog and Tzipi Livni. 

Explaining why negotiations for a consolidation between himself and Livni failed, Lapid stated that Livni had chosen "to join the left-wing bloc." 

"This is her right and of course it's not a bad thing. We need people who care about politics," he added. 

Echoing statements from Thursday, Lapid suggested that Herzog and Livni's joint list "created an order to the political system - between Labor and Meretz on the left and [Likud and Jewish Home] parties on the right and Yesh Atid which lies in the center." 

Lapid also stressed that the primary elections would be a showdown between right and center, with no reference to the left. 

These statements contradict remarks made by Yesh Atid MK Yaakov Peri last week.

The outgoing Science Minister addressed the possibility of Livni and Herzog joining forces, and stated "if one of them stands at the head of the (leftist) bloc - we will certainly go with them, and I will be among their head supporters and an active doer in establishing that bloc."

Lapid also referred to rumors that he plans to create a joint list with another party, such as Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu. 

"Many things happen in the political system. Everyone talks to everyone, but mostly the rumors are not true. We talk all the time with those [parties] who are in the center and whose agenda is compatible with ours," Lapid stated. 

Lapid then moved on to discussing his tenure as Finance Minister, which he stresses he does not regret. "Only when you are the Minister of Finance can you enter a room with the treasury and not leave it until you have a plan - like when we authorized billions of shekels to be given to Holocaist survivors," he said. 

Responding to the criticism directed at him for his performance, Lapid argued, "This group, led by the Prime Minister, destroyed the Israeli economy and then came and looked for someone to fix what they destroyed. We knew that. But I am a responsible person and I went to elections under the banner that we are taking responsibility, so I accepted the Finance Minister position." 

Lapid concluded by accusing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of forcing early elections. 

"He was afraid to pass the most socially inclined budget in years, the housing plan we submitted, and to give us credit. Both of these programs have now become our work plan," Lapid declared. 

"Immediately after the election we can begin to work on them and execute them. Everything is ready."