Yair Lapid

For years, the conflict between Israel and Iran played out in the shadows—through proxies, cyberattacks, and covert operations. Now it’s an open war. Iranian missiles have struck Israeli cities. Israel is hitting back deep inside Iranian territory. In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Yair Lapid, Israel’s former Prime Minister and current Leader of the Opposition, about the scale and significance of this war. They explore the military campaign, the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program, and whether Israel can achieve its stated goals without broader international support. Lapid offers insight into Israel’s strategy, evaluates the government’s response, and reflects on the role of the United States, regional allies, and the international community. Guest Bio: Yair Lapid served as Israel’s 14th Prime Minister and currently leads the opposition in the Knesset. He is the founder of the centrist Yesh Atid party and has held key roles including Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, and member of the Security Cabinet. Known for his focus on diplomacy, civil rights, and security, Lapid remains one of Israel’s most prominent political figures.

About the Episode "Death to Israel, the little satan!" It's all too familiar, this rallying cry of Islamic Republic regime officials and their sympathizers — they've been chanting this for almost 50 years now. But make no mistake: they mean what they say. With its terrorist proxies across the region, the Iran threat has been knocking at Israel's door for decades. But on October 7, 2023, they knocked down the door—what was previously considered a "war between wars" came out of the shadows and into plain sight. Tehran activated its regional terror proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen to pile on with direct rocket attacks in an attempt to overwhelm Israel's already-taxed security apparatus. And in an unprecedented move — not once but twice in recent months — a missile attack on Israel was launched directly from Tehran. As the new Trump administration grapples with how to face the Iran threat, understanding the Israeli perspective will be vital. To help us do just that, host Mark Dubowitz speaks with Israel's former Prime Minister Yair Lapid as well as with former Israeli national security advisor Eyal Hulata, now a senior international fellow at FDD. About the Music Our intro and outro music samples (with artist's permission) Liraz Charhi's single, "Roya" — check out the full version of the song and the meaning behind it here .

Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OrSnIuzd-Fc To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: https://arkmedia.org/ Dan on X: https://x.com/dansenor Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dansenor Ark Media on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkmediaorg In the immediate aftermath of October 7, 2023, many Israelis expected a political reckoning. Yet, no clear alternative to Netanyahu has emerged. While there is no shortage of politicians who oppose him, the power of those on the center and the left seems stymied at best. We invited the leader of the official opposition in Israel’s Knesset to the podcast to discuss what he and his party stand for, whether the center of gravity of Israel’s politics has shifted, and why Israel’s political opposition does not appear to be a major force today. Yair Lapid is a former journalist and the founder and leader of Israel’s centrist Yesh Atid party. Since entering politics in 2013, Lapid has served as Israel’s Finance Minister, Foreign Minister, and for a brief time, Prime Minister. He is now Leader of the Opposition. CREDITS: ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor YARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor, Ark Media GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

Amidst a war with Hamas, hostages in Gaza, and internal unrest , Donniel Hartman spoke with Yair Lapid , former Prime Minister and Opposition Leader in the Knesset, on July 3rd at our annual Community Leadership Program in Jerusalem. They discussed the numerous threats facing Israeli society and how Israeli leadership might guide the country through this turbulent moment. Listen to this special episode while Donniel and Yossi take a break from recording this week. JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS Sponsor an upcoming episode of For Heaven’s Sake. Click here to learn more. Learn more about our Community Leadership Program here .