Yair Lapid
Yair LapidFlash 90

Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid criticized on Monday Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's behavior in France, particularly his placement in the first row of the mega rally held in Paris on Sunday. 

According to Lapid, Netanyahu's behavior "showed the world the impolite, pushing Israel," which, in Lapid's analysis, "is a shame."

The Prime Minister's Office, however, refuted Lapid's attack, claiming that Netanyahu was supposed to be in the front row. 

Netanyahu During Rally
Netanyahu During RallyHaim Zach/GPO

Speaking at the 2015 Marketing Conference in Tel Aviv, Lapid addressed Netanyahu's behavior at the event as well as the terror attacks which served as the impetus for the event. 

"I am pleased that Israel has representatives in Paris. It is important to make the Israeli voice heard," he stated, before launching into a diatribe against Netanyahu. 

"The Prime Minister pushed in line - the same impolite behavior he showed to the Americans when he slowly started to destroy our relationship with the United States. I don't want this to happen to us with Europe." 

Lapid then went on to explain why he himself did not attend the ceremony, implicitly criticizing the several minister and MKs who joined Netanyahu in France. 

"I wanted to be there, but I did not go because I felt that Israel was over-represented," he claimed. 

"What happened this week in France is something that deeply concerns me. It connects me directly to my father's story of the Holocaust. But I saw there was no shortage of Israeli leaders at the ceremony, so I did not go." 

According to Lapid, "these attacks have caused Europe's disillusionment [with terror]. The thesis that the war on terror can be fought with tolerance and understanding is over. Terrorism must be fought with a strong hand - with intelligence and uncompromising fighting."

Lapid is not the only politician running in upcoming elections who has come out critical of Netanyahu in the aftermath of last week's murderous terrorist attacks. 

On Sunday, Hatnua Chairwoman Tzipi Livni complained about the Prime Minister's reasons for calling on French Jews to make aliyah. 

"Israel needs to be a symbol for every Jew in the world as not only a safe haven, but also of Zionism and moral values," she said.  

"Jews should not immigrate because it is a safe haven. I want them to make aliyah despite the concrete barriers in Jerusalem, despite the fact that we have to fight terror. I want them to come because of Zionism."

The Prime Minister's Office denied reports that Netanyahu was not supposed to lead marchers in Paris.

The office added that the protocol department of the Champs Elysee Palace made it clear to the Israeli embassy that Prime Minister Netanyahu was intended to walk in the front row.