Yesh Atid party leader MK Yair Lapid is in the news again, this time announcing that if he wished to enter the coalition he would have been serving as Foreign Minister, Channel 2 News reported. This was confirmed by Lapid.

If Yesh Atid enters the coalition with its 11 seats, the coalition would grow from the one-seat majority of 61 to 72 seats, providing a significant cushion.

For most, it remains difficult at best to see how Lapid would sit together in a coalition with Yahadut Hatorah and Shas, which amount to 13 seats. However if the chareidim would pull out and Yisrael Beitenu would enter, Lapid and Yisrael Beitenu have a combined total of 18, which would leave a coalition of 65, still an improvement from the current situation.

However, there would then by a machlokes between Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman regarding the Foreign Ministry post, which would likely go to Lapid since he has 11 seats and Lieberman only 6.

Despite the report and Lapid’s confirmation, Likud party officials insist no offer was ever made to Lapid.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)