BICOM

Veteran Israeli journalist Yair Lapid announced yesterday that he would be leaving his position as a news anchor for Channel 2 news in order to enter politics and to run in the next Israeli election. “I’m embarking on a new path. I am equipped with the power of knowing that I am doing something that I believe in. You are my community, and I draw strength from you. I promise to post updates here and continue to listen to you,” Lapid wrote on his Facebook page yesterday.

Lapid has so far not said which party he plans on joining or if he plans to establish his own independent party. However, his entry into politics has caused concern among some in the centre-left, who fear that a new party headed by Lapid will further fragment the bloc’s power. Several recent polls have shown that a political faction established by Lapid could gain 15 to 20 seats out of the 120 in the Knesset, taking votes mostly away from other centre-left parties. The polls show that most of the seats by a party led by Lapid would be taken away from Kadima, dropping from their current 28 seats to 10. Other political parties would also be affected, but the balance of power between left- and right-wing blocs in the Knesset is expected to remain unchanged.

The Head of the opposition, Kadima chairperson Tzipi Livni, welcomed Lapid’s decision saying that more people should join politics in order to make a positive change in Israel. Leader of Israel’ Labour party, Shelly Yachimovich who had previously worked with Lapid on his Channel 2 news show, called Lapid a “person of substance” but stated that his entrance into politics would only strengthen those with “right-wing conservative views.”

Lapid – whose late father, Yosef Lapid, headed the Shinui party and served as justice minister under Ariel Sharon – is said to have been considering going into politics since the 2009 general election, but has delayed an official announcement until now.