Lapid predicts his party will win 22 seats
09/13/2012 02:30
Yesh Atid leader makes prediction, relying on many undecided voters, at party's first major national campaign event.
Yair Lapid Photo: Marc Israel Sellem
Former journalist Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party will win 22 mandates in the next
general election, Lapid predicted at its first major national campaign event, a
pre-Rosh Hashana toast at Kibbutz Shefayim on Wednesday.
Hundreds of
activists attended the event in which Israeli-style felafel was
served.
Public figures rumored to be running for Knesset with Yesh Atid
who attended included Herzliya Mayor Yael German, former Jerusalem police chief
Mickey Levy, and former Health Ministry director- general Eitan
Chai-Am.
Lapid explained his 22-seat prediction by noting the large
numbers of undecided centrist voters, young people eligible to vote for the
first time, and volunteers working to raise awareness of the party. Some 12,000
volunteers have organized into 80 local campaigns in as many communities across
the country.
“Yesh Atid is like a submarine right now,” Lapid
said.
“Above the water there is only a periscope. I am that periscope,
interviewing and speaking at rallies. But under the surface of the sea there is
a large body that is always growing and that no one knows exists. We will raise
it to the surface at the right moment.”
Lapid vowed to fight for
middle-class Israelis who serve in the army.
He did not address
diplomatic or security issues at the event, but earlier on Wednesday he
criticized Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s handling of Israel’s relationship
with Washington.