Is Netanyahu following? The secret meeting of the rebellious Likud MK with Yair Lapid

June Green
February 11, 2026   
Photo: 
Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

The chairman of the Economy Committee, MK David Bitan of the Likud, hosted opposition leader Yair Lapid in his office in the Knesset building today (Wednesday).

The two met alone in Bitan's office for about 20 minutes. The meeting took place against the backdrop of the Likud MK's tensions with his party and his opposition to several coalition moves.

Bitan's office claims that Lapid came in for only "seven minutes.".

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According to the bureau, the two "talked about routine issues like all Knesset members work with everyone else, nothing special.".

About a week ago, an unusual confrontation was recorded between Bitan and Nevo Katz, Netanyahu's parliamentary advisor. Bitan accused the Prime Minister's Office and Smotrich of political pressure, threats against MKs, and transferring discussions from his economics committee to another committee in order to bypass him.

After the incident, Bitan said: "There is a limit to how much one can harm Likud members and succumb to blackmail. All kinds of Ahithophel advisors are trying to create cheap provocations. Likud is united and we will always maintain discipline - but there are issues that are close to our hearts, like the small farmers who guard the country's borders. They cannot be harmed.".


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