Israeli elections: The 5 candidates steering the debate

Israeli elections will be held Jan. 22.

4. Yair Lapid, the Obama-esque 'prom king'

Baz Ratner/Reuters/File
Yair Lapid speaks during an interview with Reuters in Tel Aviv in this December 2012 file photo.

Former TV news anchor Yair Lapid, dubbed the “prom king” of Israeli politics, left journalism for politics last year. 

Known for his good looks and famous father, who is a former deputy prime minister, Mr. Lapid is running an Obama-esque campaign based on his slogan “We have come to change.” Yesh Atid, the name of the party he started in April, means “There is a future.” 

After losing early momentum, Lapid’s party now looks likely to pick up between six and 10 seats in the new Knesset. Lapid has not ruled out joining Netanyahu as a coalition partner, with a possible minister position for himself. 

Like Labor, Lapid’s party has stayed quiet on the Israeli-Palestinian issue and has focused mainly on socioeconomic issues. Lapid has particularly criticized the amount of government funding for ultra-Orthodox schools that train future rabbis in traditional religious texts. 

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