Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu called Yair Lapid on Friday and said he hoped the interim prime minister’s four-month period in office before elections would be marked by “security quiet,” but also put the newly minted premier on notice that his political rivals won’t be the ones providing tranquility in the run-up to the November 1 vote.
Netanyahu’s call to Lapid was the first publicly disclosed conversation between the two since the latter took over as prime minister hours earlier, tasked with stewarding the country through the elections and until the establishment of a new government, following the collapse of the eight-party coalition led by Yamina leader Naftali Bennett.
Netanyahu told Lapid he wished him “four months of quiet security,” ahead of the elections, a spokesperson for the Likud leader said. Netanyahu, who was prime minister from 2009 to 2021, is attempting to return to power after a year of leading the opposition.
But during the conversation, the two split over how the opposition leader will receive updates on Israel’s security situations.
According to Netanyahu’s spokesperson, the opposition head told Lapid he wanted to get legally mandated security updates from Lapid’s military secretary, but without Lapid being present, “in order to prevent the security briefing from turning into a political tool ahead of elections.” Netanyahu’s apparent concern was not to be seen, and possibly photographed, being briefed by the prime minister he is seeking to defeat.
Lapid’s spokesperson said in a statement that Netanyahu was invited to “come, as is accepted, for a security briefing in [Lapid’s] office with the military secretary. ”
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in a meeting with Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar (R), his military secretary Avi Gil and other security officials, on April 2, 2022. (Shin Bet)
While the opposition leader is required by law to receive such updates from the prime minister, Netanyahu refused to comply over the past year, as he regularly argued against Naftali Bennett’s legitimacy as premier.
Instead, he received security updates from Bennett’s military secretary Avi Gil, managing to avoid being photographed while receiving a briefing from his political rival.
Lapid’s statements described Netanyahu’s call as congratulatory, though such language was not used according to his rival.
Netanyahu’s statement also referred to Lapid as “interim prime minister,” whereas Lapid is referred to simply as “prime minister” in his office’s readout.
New Prime Minister Yair Lapid (L) holds a meeting with Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, July 1, 2022. (Haim Zach / GPO)
Lapid officially became prime minister at midnight between Thursday and Friday, taking office as the 14th premier in Israel’s history.
US President Joe Biden, who is slated to touch down in Israel in less than two weeks, immediately congratulated him in a tweet. Lapid is also scheduled to make a brief trip on July 5 to Paris, where he will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Only entering politics a decade ago, the centrist former TV anchor will be the first non-right-wing prime minister since Ehud Barak left office in 2001, and one of the few without significant military experience.
On Sunday, Lapid is expected to convene the first weekly cabinet meeting of his premiership. Bennett – who announced on Wednesday that he will not run in the next election – is set to remain in government as alternate prime minister. He will also continue to hold responsibility for the country’s Iran policy.
Earlier Friday Lapid met with Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
New Prime Minister Yair Lapid holds a meeting with security chiefs at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, July 1, 2022. (Haim Zach / GPO)
Shortly afterward, the new prime minister held a meeting to discuss “the captives and MIAs” – a reference to the two Israeli men and the remains of two IDF soldiers being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
