Yair Lapid

Maccabi Tel Aviv Congratulated over Championship

"You did it big time", Prime Minister Netanyahu tells Maccabi Tel Aviv coach after victory.

Herzog to Livni and Lapid: Leave the Coalition

Opposition leader says Lapid and Livni should leave the government over peace talks failure.

Why is the Government Still Funding 'Nakba Day' Events?

MK Fania Kirschenbaum (Likud-Beiteinu) demanded that Yair Lapid cut off funding to groups that hold 'Nakba commemorations'

Lapid Rejects Postponing Presidential Election

"I will oppose any initiative to postpone the presidential election," declares Finance Minister.

Conflict Erupts Over Solutions to Housing Crisis

Where to invest - that is the question. Housing and Finance Ministries face off over the better solution to the housing problem.

Ariel: Lapid VAT Exemption Plan Won't Get Out of Committee

Housing Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home) slammed Yair Lapid's plans to 'accommodate' haredi and Arab Israelis in his VAT exemption plan.

MK Eichler: Investigate Lapid for 'Hate Crimes'

Hareidi MK attacks Finance Minister Yair Lapid, saying that he is 'guilty of hate crimes against haredi Israelis.'

Lapid Not Giving Up on Peace with PA

"We will not give up until we are separated from the Palestinians," says Yesh Atid leader at party convention.

Environment Groups Brand Eilat Railroad 'A Big Waste of Money'

Environmental groups have written to Finance Minister Yair Lapid, asking him to freeze plans for construction of a rail line to Eilat.

Lapid Offered $200K to Prove PLO Renounced Terror

William Langfan offers a contribution if the Finance Minister can place facts behind a statement that he made to defend Hamas.

Lapid: Negotiations with Hamas Could Be Possible in the Future

Yesh Atid chairman apparently backtracks on strong stance against negotiating with terror group, insists that Hamas could change.

Intel Announces Nearly $6 Billion Investment in Israeli Hi-Tech

Economics Minister hails computer chip giant's decision as perhaps the biggest investment in Israel history.

Intel to Invest 5-6 Billion Dollars in Israeli Plant

Ministers welcome plan to upgrade Intel's Kiryat Gat plant, which involves a reciprocal investment in the Israeli economy.

MKs Fume as Lapid Pulls Funds for Judea and Samaria

Yo-yo budgeting? FM pulls Housing Ministry funding, causing Jewish Home MK to rail against Finance 'circus.'

Lapid Memorializes Father at Holocaust Memorial Day Ceremony

Finance Minister chooses personal, not political, route at Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony - saying how 'Zionism was born' from the ghetto.

Why I Voted to Suspend Peace Negotiations With the PA

Approved: One-Billion Shekel Aid Package for Holocaust Survivors

Finance Ministry plan to see thousands of survivors improve their quality of life, ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Hospital Staff Strike Outside Finance Minister's Home

Hadassah Medical Center controversy continues, as protestors claim the bailout process is stalling.

Centrist Minister Worried by Hamas-Fatah Deal

Finance Minister Lapid asks if Palestinian Arabs really want a state alongside Israel.

Finance Minister Gets Philosophers Mixed Up

Yair Lapid's detractors are having fun with his latest pseudo-intellectual Facebook gaffe.

In Passover Prayer, Secularist Lapid Calls for Divine Love

In a special Passover prayer posted on his Facebook page, Finance Minister Yair Lapid asked G-d to show His love for the Jewish people

Shas Won't Join Any Break Off Coalition, Deri Says

Aryeh Deri of Shas will not join a break off coalition led by Yair Lapid.

Minister Threatens to Leave 'Extreme Right' Government

Environmental Affairs Minister Amir Peretz slams Bennett for making Israel 'extreme right', calls to end sanctions against PA.

Finance Ministry Seeking to Lower Cost of Living, Food Prices

Israeli government looking to cut the profits of companies producing food subsidized by the government, in bid to make daily life easier.

Lapid 'Saves' Passover With Potato Imports

Finance Minister Yair Lapid has headed off a major Passover crisis – a shortage of potatoes –by allowing more to be imported

Lapid Calls Right 'Messianic' for Rejoicing at Stopped Talks

Abbas's new conditions scupper current peace talks according to finance minister, says only 'messianic' extreme right is rejoicing.

Lapid Promises Govt. 'Will Pay its Bills on Time'

Finance Minister Yair Lapid is out to set an example - and ease the burden on small business in Israel.

Home Prices Tumble as Buyers Wait for VAT Discount

Yair Lapid's ideas on eliminating value-added tax (VAT) payments is already bringing home prices down, as buyers hold out for a better deal.

Secularist Minister Calls to Employ Hareidim

Finance Minister Lapid says hareidim are 'industrious and intelligent workers,' urges their employment.

Left-Wing MKs Angered Over Government Funds to Judea-Samaria

Leftist MKs up in arms, accuse Finance Committee of 'lacking transparency', over allocations to Judea and Samaria.

Lapid Says Hareidim, Arabs Should Enlist if They Want Benefits

Finance Minister defends VAT discount for young couples, says state willing to sacrifice for citizens who serve the nation.

Sources: Uri Ariel, Naftali Bennett at Odds Over VAT Plan

Sources close to Uri Ariel said that he would support the plan to exempt home buyers from VAT payments only if it applied to all.

Target Price Program 'Guaranteed' to Bring Down Home Prices

Besides Yair Lapid's VAT discount, the government has another way to help make homes more affordable.

MK Mozes: Lapid is the Real Prime Minister

The government will continue to function - and continue to legislate anti-hareidi laws, UTJ head Menachem Eliezer Mozes believes.

Bereaved Families Ask Lapid and Perry: Don't Release Terrorists

Members of the Almagor terror victims organization meet Ministers Lapid and Perry, ask them to reconsider upcoming terrorist release.

Cautious Celebrations As Housing VAT Cancelled for New Buyers

Cutting VAT on apartments is nice, but there are better ways that Yair Lapid can help the middle class, says one consumer group.

CEO: Lapid's 'Cost-Cutting' Plan Likely to Drive Up Home Prices

When government promises a 'discount,' it's time to watch your wallet, warns the CEO of a large Israeli construction company

Hareidi MK Calls Yair Lapid an 'Anti-Semite'

Opposition MKs attack Lapid, coalition government over the landmark laws passed last week.

Ariel: Make Sure All Israelis Get Apt. VAT Discount

Housing Minister Uri Ariel on Tuesday said that he would support eliminating VAT for first-time apartment buyers, provided it applied to all

Young Couples May Get VAT Break for First Home

Finance Minister will propose the tax break – that will cost the treasury about 2B shekels – on Monday.

Herzog: I Won't Enter Netanyahu's Coalition

"I intend to win the next election and lead this country," declares opposition leader.

Lapid: What Do We Need the PA's Recognition For?

Finance Minister joins those who have rejected Netanyahu’s demand that the PA recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

Amid Drop in Polls, Lapid Admits to 'Messing Up'

Listing mistakes in year as finance minister, Lapid admits arrogance, denies smoking pot. 'I'm full of defects, but didn't smoke grass.'

Expert: Arab Only University Will be a Hotbed for Terrorists

Professor David Bukay of Haifa University warns against a plan by the Finance Ministry to establish an Arab only university in Sakhnin.

Shas MK Says Bennett Dragging Jewish Home after Lapid

MK Ze'ev argues Bennett acting against majority of his own party, slams ramming through of three controversial laws.

Hareidi Rabbi Seeks Lapid's Dead Grandfather to Defeat Draft Law

Leading hareidi rabbi sought help from beyond the grave for hareidi win in Beit Shemesh elections, and to defeat Enlistment Law.

Lapid: Time for Hareidi Men to Do Their Part

Lapid: Vote on hareidi enlistment is a vote for government power over ‘multi-cultural circus.’

Lapid Calls Leftist Draft-Dodgers 'Spoiled Brats'

Finance Minister notes that letter refusing conscription not from 'idealists,' but 'secular slackers.'

Peres to Lapid: 'Go Easy' on Hareidi Draftees

President Peres asked Finance Minister Yair Lapid to reconsider criminalizing hareidi draft-dodging. Lapid respectfully declined.

Lapid's Draconian Yeshiva Measure Still in Place

Despite Education Ministry promises, measure still penalizes yeshivas for any missing students, even those in reserve army duty.

Mass Hareidi Rally ‘Like a Purim Play’

MK Feiglin on why Yair Lapid ‘is the best thing to happen to hareidi Jews.’

Finance Minister Yair Lapid Bottoms Out Public Approval Poll

Poll ranking public approval of 23 ministers reveals surprises. Among them: Livni ranks above Netanyahu.

'We Are a Lighthouse in a Very Turbulent Storm'

Economics Minister Naftali Bennett rejects EU boycotts, the idea of land for peace, and complaints against the hareidi draft.

Herzog Takes Coalition to Court Over Key Knesset Committee

Opposition leader files appeal in protest of delay in the appointment of a chairman to Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

'Threats on My Life Don't Scare Me'

Yair Lapid issues statement on death threats, stresses that disagreements with the hareidi community are 'between brothers,' 'out of love.'

Police Investigate Incitement Against Lapid, Bennett

Police Chief warns that hareidi death-threats taken 'very seriously'; Science Minister asks Shin Bet, Public Security Ministry to step in.

'Lapid Will Be Murdered Like Rabin'

Attorney Rabbi Halbertal quotes warnings Lapid will be murdered by a hareidi for relentless pursuit of hareidi enlistment.

Pro-Enlistment Group Says Current Measures Don't Go Far Enough

Lapid criticized for 'misleading' Israelis into believing that the 'equal service' issue had been resolved; 50,000 hareidim 'still exempt'.

Lapid: 'We are a Legion of 19 Spears' Protecting Peace Agenda

Finance Minister Yair Lapid insists in speech to American leaders that peace deal is the key to economic, political, and internal stability.

Yesh Atid 'Dictatorship': Lapid Picks President Votes

Report shows Lapid has forbidden his party's MKs from signing support of presidential candidate, wants to control vote for female candidate.