Yair Lapid

Talks on Defense Cuts End, No Agreement Yet

Israel's security cabinet ends marathon talks on cuts in defense spending. Final decision expected Monday morning.

Lapid wants to Slash Defense Budget

Security cabinet meets to discuss proposed cuts in defense spending of over a billion dollars

‘Why Does Israel Want Me to Divorce?’

Businesswoman asks why couples in business together are punished for being married.

Protesters: Lapid ‘Twisting the Knife’ with New Taxes

Protesters disappointed with Lapid, ‘What about his proposals from before the elections?’

Israelis March against Austerity Budget

2,000 people gathered in central Tel Aviv, their ire focused on finance minister Yair Lapid.

Lapid: In Six Months It Will be Better

Finance Minister Yair Lapid assures angry Israelis that he is following through on his promises and that the budget cuts are the right move.

Lapid Against ‘Social Protests’

Finance Minister explains why he no longer supports ‘cost of living’ rallies. Social protests previously brought him to power.

Protesters Outside Lapid's Home Tell Him to Resign

About 100 people demonstrated outside the home of Finance Minister Lapid against the planned budget cuts, calling on him to resign.

Activists: Back to the Street for More 'Cottage Cheese Protests'

The summer of 2013 is likely to be a “hot” one as protest groups active during the “cottage cheese protests” may take to the streets again

Bennett: 100% Behind Lapid, No Matter What

Economics Minister Naftali Bennett on Thursday expressed full support for Finance Minister Yair Lapid

Lapid: I Won't Give Away Money I Don't Have

Finance Minister Yair Lapid attempts to justify the budget cuts. "The rich are getting hit too."

Lapid Raises Cigarette Prices

Hours after introducing budget cuts and tax increases, Finance Minister Yair Lapid signs an order calling to raise the prices of cigarettes.

Lapid: We Knew This Would be Hard

Finance Minister says budget cuts are hard, inevitable.

Deficit Spending Target Approved, After S&P Rating Cut

The government voted to approve an increase in the state budget's deficit target, at a compromise level of 4.65%

Hareidi Paper Compares Lapid’s Speech to Hitler’s

Hareidi journalist argues that anti-hareidi incitement is comparable pre-World War anti-Semitism.

Lapid Agrees to Raise Deficit to 4.65%

Finance Minister Yair Lapid agrees to increase the deficit target to 4.65% for 2013, after originally planning to increase it to 4.9%.

S&P Downgrades Israel's Local Currency Rating

S&P lowers Israel’s long- and short-term local currency sovereign credit ratings to 'A+/A-1'. Lapid unfazed.

Lapid Seeks Unprecedented Deficit

Lapid wants to increase deficit goal to 50 billion. Sources close to PM say he’s working alone.

Lieberman: Referendum a Bad Idea

Yisrael Beyteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman said that he opposed holding a referendum on withdrawal from Judea and Samaria

Edelstein: Lapid Showing Contempt for the Knesset

Knesset Speaker criticizes Finance Minister for saying he would not make any major speeches in the Knesset.

Gafni to Hareidi MKs: Don’t Play Into Lapid’s Hands

Hareidi MKs decide to drop personal spats with Lapid, ‘It’s what he wants.’

Lapid Promises to Fight for the Working Man

Finance Minister Yair Lapid says that he intends to fight for the working man who "just pays the bills".

Stanley Fischer Backs Lapid on Deficit Goal

Bank of Israel head comes to agreement with Lapid, backs 3% deficit target.

Hareidi MK: Lapid’s Hate an Attempt to Distract Voters

Yair Lapid’s anti-hareidi invective an attempt to stem criticism of his budget cuts, hareidi MK says.

Yishai: Lapid is Right – We Took the Money

Shas head’s sarcastic comeback to Lapid, ‘I confess – we took the money.’

Airlines Agree to End Strike

Israeli airlines, Finance Ministry reach a deal; Israel will pay for airlines’ security costs.

Lapid: Israel 'Sick of Taking Orders' from Hareidi MKs

Lapid tells hareidi Jews he does not hate them, ‘the state is just sick of taking your orders,’ in stormy Knesset session.

Lapid: Airline Strike is Futile

Finance Minister says "open skies" agreement is a done deal.

Yair Lapid on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People List

A newcomer to politics, Yair Lapid, the head of the Yesh Atid party has made TIME’s 100 Most Influential People List this year.

Lapid’s Independence Day Message: We Are 'Both'

Lapid sends Independence Day message appealing to Israeli nature, but may offend hareidi Jews, ‘settlers.’

‘Social Justice Forum’ Backs Lapid: Increase the Deficit

Group founded by ‘social justice’ protesters backs Lapid on budget, says increasing deficit is ‘responsible.’

Bank of Israel vs. Lapid on Running Up Deficit

Lapid seeks leeway in 2013 budget; Bank of Israel chief Stanley Fischer nixes change to deficit plan.

Mitzna: Yair Lapid as Finance Minister is 'Irresponsible'

Appointing Yair Lapid as Finance Minister is like appointing Amir Peretz as Defense Minister, says MK Amram Mitzna.

Lapid: Budget Cuts 'Painful and Necessary'

Minister of Finance says Israel must "return to responsible behavior so that we don't turn into Greece or Spain."

Gafni: Lapid Hiding His Real Intention to Hurt the Poor

MK Moshe Gafni criticizes Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s planned budget cuts, says they will hurt the country’s weaker sectors.

Lapid: You Can't Make Money in Israel and Then Run to London

Finance Minister Yair Lapid slammed Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer over his plans to resettle in London, because the taxes there are lower

Eilat Shuts Its Doors to Protest Sales Tax

The Red Sea resort of Eilat will block entrances to the city next week to protest a government plan to impose a new sales tax.

Proposed Budget: Raise the VAT, Cut Civil Servants' Pay

The Treasury plans to raise the VAT and cut the wages of civil servants in order to reduce Israel’s deficit.

Opposition Slams Lapid Over Planned Cuts

Lapid chooses to avoid special Knesset session but finds time to post on Facebook, angering opposition.

Livni: Holocaust Survivors Deserve Free Legal Help

Tzipi Livni said she would sponsor a law that would provide free legal help to Holocaust survivors seeking to reclaim property or benefits

Lapid: 400 Million for Holocaust Survivors

Lapid, Netanyahu announce new aid for Holocaust survivors.

Protest Outside Lapid's Home Over 'Middle Class' Comment

About 300 people protest outside the home of Finance Minister Yair Lapid, over his definition of the Israeli middle class.

Journalist Amnon Dankner Dies at 67

Dankner was editor-in-chief of Maariv for 5 years and was a friend of Olmert and Lapid.

Lapid Bashed for 20,000-as-Middle Class Comment

New Finance Minister gets harsh criticism for terming 20,000-a-month earners “middle class.”

Lapid: Middle Class Not a 'Money Machine'

Finance Minister Yair Lapid has stressed that new taxes and the burden of financing the country cannot fall strictly on the middle class

Netanyahu, Lapid Agree on Budget Cuts

Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu have agreed on a series of cuts, including in the defense budget.

Peres: Cut IDF Budget When Israel's Enemies 'Cut'

President Shimon Peres said that he would agree to a cut in the military budget – if there was a “cut” in Israel's enemies

Labor Head: Lapid Sounds Just Like Netanyahu

Yachimovich: Lapid's "Future" party should be renamed "Past." He is taking orders from Netanyahu’s staff.

Lapid: It's Worse than I Thought

Israel’s new Finance Minister admits he will have to implement tough economic cuts in order to repair Israel’s economy.

Lapid Skips Chametz Sale

Finance Minister Lapid skips pre-Passover tradition, raises suspicions he is ‘afraid to have picture taken with hareidi.’

Hareidi Enlistment Proposal Worries Activists

Pro-enlistment activists worry that Yesh Atid’s agreement on hareidi-religious army recruitment will have no real effect.

Lapid, Steinitz in First Working Meeting

Incoming minister of treasury meets the outgoing minister for two hours.

Lapid: Not Afraid to Make Unpopular Decisions

Incoming Finance Minister clarifies: My job is not to be popular, but to lead.

Rabbi Steinman: 'Government of Evildoers Won't Break Us'

Rabbi Aharon Leib Steinman, the leader of the Lithuanian sector of hareidi Jewry, called the new government “a government of evildoers”

Coalition Talks Deadlocked, Likud Warns Yesh Atid

With coalition talks stalled between Likud-Beytenu and Yesh Atid, PM Binyamin Netanyahu warns Yair Lapid that time has run out.

Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar Says ‘Rotation is a Bad Idea’

Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar expresses his own views on whether he should remain in his post as coalition talks stall over the issue.

Report: PM Has 'Had It' With Lapid's 'Inflexbility'

With time running out, Binyamin Netanyahu expressed his frustration with what sources called the “inflexibility” of Yesh Atid's Yair Lapid.

Coalition Talks Continue into the Night

Progress was made on the issue of hareidi enlistment during the Netanyahu-Lapid-Bennett meeting. Negotiators to continue talking.

Lapid Will be Israel's Next Finance Minister

Coalition talks almost done: Lapid will likely be Finance Minister and Bennett will be Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor.

Report: Lapid Will Replace Yishai

Likud Beytenu is reportedly close to signing a coalition agreement with Yesh Atid; Lapid will replace Shas's Yishai as Interior Minister.