This sentence by Yair Lapid drove the entire left-wing camp crazy - and Yinon Magal also celebrated

Haredim 10
May 26, 2026   
Photo: 
Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

One short sentence by the opposition chairman drove the left-wing camp crazy - and provoked angry reactions on social media.

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What happened?

Well, MK Yair Lapid, who became Naftali Bennett's number 2, said during a conversation on Nadav Perry's podcast: "You know I'm a Zionist and a patriot and not a leftist.".

Left-wing MKs were quick to respond. MK Naama Lazimi wrote: "I am leftist and Zionist and traditional and liberal and love this country with all my heart, one that gets me out of the house at any time and in any situation, in the face of riot police and horsemen, after violence and stun grenades, agitated, hurt and determined - shoulder to shoulder with right-wing and centrist people.".

Media figure Yinon Magal also rushed to add fuel to the fire: "I don't understand, aren't leftists Zionists and patriots?""

Lapid, in an attempt to extricate himself from the chaos, responded to one of the tweets: "I am indeed a patriot and a Zionist and not a leftist. You can be a patriot and a Zionist and also be a leftist. Great. You can be a patriot and a Zionist and be right-wing. Great too. It's best in my opinion to be a patriot and a Zionist and a centrist. That's what I am.".


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