Lapid tells Netanyahu he's staying in opposition

Netanyahu invited Lapid to meet with him as part of a series of meetings with the heads of opposition factions.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (photo credit: RONEN ZVULUN / REUTERS)
Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
(photo credit: RONEN ZVULUN / REUTERS)
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a meeting at the Knesset late Monday night that his faction would remain outside the government.
Netanyahu invited Lapid to meet with him as part of a series of meetings with the heads of opposition factions.
He has met over the past two weeks with Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog, Meretz head Zehava Gal-On, and Joint List head Ayman Odeh.
“I am not interested in entering the government,” Lapid told Netanyahu. “I am disappointed about the fire sale of concessions to the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox).”
In the 40-minute meeting, Netanyahu and Lapid discussed security issues and the challenges in the Middle East.
Lapid expressed concern that there could be another escalation in the near future.
Yesh Atid faction head Ofer Shelah complained Tuesday about the division of the Foreign Ministry’s responsibilities among several Likud ministers.
He vowed to pass the bill to fix the situation.
“The ministry, which was once a lucrative and proud office under Netanyahu has become a bank that distributes parts to frustrated ministers,” Shelah said. “Legislation must be passed to prevent the prime minister from breaking up everything that moves for the good of his own interests. Israel’s foreign service must be saved from the hands of Netanyahu.”