Yair Lapid calls on Netanyahu to appoint interim PM
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must appoint a vice prime minister who will fill in for him on key issues when he is busy fighting his criminal investigations.
By GIL HOFFMANUpdated: FEBRUARY 27, 2018 01:26YAIR LAPID: This government’s moves with the Russians have failed miserably(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must appoint a vice prime minister who will fill in for him on key issues when he is busy fighting his criminal investigations, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said at a meeting of his Knesset faction on Monday.Lapid said Netanyahu had a right to remain in office and not suspend himself.But, he said, it would be responsible for him to promote one of the Likud’s ministers in the security cabinet and give him the title of vice prime minister.“Over the next several months, the prime minister will be very busy with his probes,” Lapid said.“To enable the country to continue to fully function, Netanyahu will need someone beside him who understands the system and can be in touch with the different security authorities, including the National Security Council.”The Likud ministers in the security cabinet are Intelligence Services Minister Israel Katz, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Environmental Protection Minister Ze’ev Elkin, and Energy, Water and National Infrastructures Minister Yuval Steinitz.Lapid declined to recommend any specific candidate. Katz declined to respond to Lapid.Culture Minister Miri Regev told The Jerusalem Post she would be happy to receive the post. Tourism Minister Yariv Levin called Lapid’s idea nonsense.Lapid was asked at the meeting why Netanyahu’s Likud has not fallen in the polls due to the investigations and why Lapid’s Yesh Atid has not gained support according to the surveys.“It is too early to look at the polls,” Lapid responded. “People don’t know how to digest this crisis yet.”
