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What’s happening: Yair Lapid formally became prime minister at midnight.

• Today he will hold his first security consultation with the head of Shin Bet security service. He will also meet his military secretary, Maj.-Gen. Avi Gil, who also served his predecessor, and with the coordinator for POWs (prisoners of war) and missing civilians.
• After the Knesset was dissolved yesterday Lapid visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum. He said, “I came to promise dad that I would always preserve a strong Israel, able to defend itself and to defend its children.”
• Yesterday at the formal handover ceremony outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett gave Lapid the traditional Jewish blessing for one’s children recited on a Sabbath, before adding, “Good luck my brother!”
• After that Lapid met with President Herzog at the President’s Residence. President Herzog noted: “We are in a period of new elections. Five elections in such a short time are very unhealthy for a country. We must remember that first of all, first and foremost, there is a state to run, a country to lead, a country that must take care of its citizens’ needs, even if there are elections.”
• Herzog added, “You come to this role with great experience, with many talents, and you have also proven considerable political skill. I wish you great success, because your success is the country’s success, regardless of elections. Elections are elections, running the country is running the country. I offer you my help and support, as I have done with any other prime minister, and the same with you. I am sure that we will work together successfully.”
• Prime Minister Lapid received congratulations from leaders around the world including US President Joe Biden. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss wrote on Twitter, “Looking forward to working with my good friend Yair Lapid as he becomes Israel’s 14th Prime Minister. The UK-Israel relationship continues to go from strength to strength, bringing prosperity and upholding security for both nations.”

Context: The orderly transition of power and the alternating role of prime minister was part of the coalition agreement, when the government was formed a year ago. Even though Lapid was head of the largest party in the coalition, he supported Bennett to become prime minister first in order to break the stalemate between the pro-Netanyahu and anti-Netanyahu blocs and avoid another repeat election.

• The transitional government that Lapid now heads will not be able to advance any new laws or make senior appointments, but otherwise has full prime ministerial powers including in the security realm.
• Traditionally, most incoming prime ministers have chosen their first stop to be the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, the last remnant of the destroyed Temple. Lapid, as a secular Jew, chose Yad Vashem. Lapid’s father (a Holocaust survivor) was also a well-known television personality before entering political life. A similar career path chosen by his son.
• The significance of meeting today with the coordinator for POWs and missing civilians relates to a video released by Hamas earlier this week. Hamas in Gaza holds the bodies of two fallen IDF soldiers from 2014 and two Israeli civilians suffering mental illness, who entered Gaza and have been held prisoners. This week, Hamas announced the deterioration in the health of one of the captives and later released a video of Hisham al-Seid, a Bedouin Israeli in bed wearing an oxygen mask.
• Prime Minister Lapid will surround himself with a blend of long-term trusted advisers and senior officials who will remain in place, including the cabinet secretary, military secretary, and Eyal Hulata as national security adviser.
• His predecessor Bennett continued to live in his family home in Raanana and controversially approved renovations there. Lapid is expected to move into the compound of the official prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem, but not the actual house as it also requires renovation.

Looking ahead: On Sunday, Lapid will chair his first cabinet meeting and convene a meeting of party leaders of his coalition partners.

• Next week Lapid will travel to France for a pre scheduled prime ministerial state visit, and meet with French President Emmanuel Macron.
• Lapid will also welcome and host President Biden on his visit to Israel later in the month.
• The upcoming elections will be held on November 1^st, but Lapid will remain prime minister after that until a new government is sworn in.