The November 1 elections will decide the country’s future between “politics that are corrupt, violent and irresponsible” and “choosing the future of our children,” Prime Minister Yair Lapid said at the beginning of his Yesh Atid Party faction meeting on Tuesday.
“Today the elections begin. We have under two weeks to decide where Israel is headed,” he said.
“We offer to the State of Israel leadership, we offer values, we offer hope, we offer mutual respect and the common good. All we ask from the citizens of Israel is the opportunity to continue,” he added.
“These are what the election is about. Do we want a state [with] a shared future and economic and security achievements, or a return to [the] hate, anger and corruption of the past?”
Lapid laid out the three ideas he said the government was already pursuing.
Lapid's vision for the future
The first is “law and order,” which he called “a real plan to bring order and sovereignty to the country.” The second is the fight against the high cost of living, and the third is “safeguarding Israel’s liberal democracy,” which includes maintaining the independence of the courts, the rule of law, and LGBT and women’s rights.
He also listed a number of achievements that he credited to his government since it was formed in June 2021, arguing that it would have had many more with a full four-year tenure. These include gaining control over COVID-19 without lockdowns, erasing the deficit and lowering unemployment, joining the fight against global warming, pursuing Operation Breaking Dawn in Gaza, implementing reforms to lower prices on a large number of items, and strengthening the Israel Police and Border Police.
After final election results are announced, President Isaac Herzog will award one party leader the mandate to attempt to form a coalition of at least 61 seats. Polls are currently predicting that no faction will be able to do so.