Ya'akov Litzman
Ya'akov LitzmanHadas Parush/Flash 90

Health Minister Ya'akov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) on Sunday downplayed recent polls indicating that the Yesh Atid party would be the largest party in the Knesset if elections were held today, stating that Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid will not be Prime Minister.

"I have not spoken to him and do not intend to speak with him," Litzman said of Lapid as he spoke at an event honoring ZAKA in Tel Aviv.

"So he rose in the polls. I want to reassure all of you: He will not be Prime Minister,” he added, stressing that as long as Lapid does not change his position on laws that are most important to haredim, he will receive the cold shoulder from Litzman.

"Wearing a kippah during a visit to the Kotel says nothing. When Lapid votes for our laws - we'll talk," the Health Minister said.

The comments come a day after a poll aired by Channel 1 News found that Yesh Atid would win 27 seats if elections were held today, compared to 11 in the current Knesset.

Yesh Atid's continued success in polls was reflected in a poll released early last week by Channel 2 News, and which found that if elections would take place today, Yesh Atid would lead with 24 seats while the Likud would come in second place with just 22 seats.

Likud members, however, were unfazed by the poll, saying, "The Likud voters will come back when they realize that Lapid is a left-winger heading a left-wing party who will promote concessions and withdrawals which will endanger Israel's security - something that Likud leader Netanyahu will never do."