Recent polls continue to show that Yair Lapid and his Yesh Atid party may become the largest party in Knesset. This means it is extremely likely that Lapid will become Israel’s next Prime Minister.

Some chareidim are beginning to ponder how they would address such a reality, which may soon pose new challenges for chareidi parties in Knesset.

This leads us to Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, who is the only elected chareidi officials who still will not speak to Lapid. Since Lapid’s ‘share the burden’ efforts directed against the chareidim in the previous Knesset, Litzman has decided there is nothing to speak with him about as he is an enemy of chareidi Jewry. He feels that despite Lapid’s public apologizes and gestures of peace-making, nothing has changed as he still believes in the same platform, which is anti-chareidi.

At a Ramat Gan event on Sunday, 8 Elul, Litzman discussed relations between chareidim and Lapid, and it appears nothing has changed in his eyes. When asked what he thinks with polls showing Yesh Atid earning 24 seats, Litzman said “permit me to calm everyone. He will not become Prime Minister”.

He opted to add “I still do not speak with Lapid and do not plan to do so. He has not changed his positions and wearing a kippa at the Kosel means nothing. When he votes in favor of our laws then we can speak”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)