Yair Lapid took office as the 14th Prime Minister of the State of Israel last night.
Today (Friday), his first day in office, he is expected to meet with GSS chief Ronen Bar in the Tel Aviv campus, and among other things will hold a meeting on the issue of Israeli prisoners in Gaza.
On Sunday, Lapid will open for the first time the cabinet meeting to be held at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem.
The president met with incoming Prime Minister Yair Lapid at the President's House Photo: Avi Kenner
Yesterday, Lapid visited Yad Vashem immediately after the vote to dissolve the Knesset.
"I promised my father that I would always keep Israel strong, that she would know how to defend herself and ensure the peace of her children," he said after the visit.
He then attended a modest ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office on the occasion of his inauguration, in the presence of his family, members of the Bennett family and senior officials from the incoming and incoming Prime Minister's offices.
Bennett turned to Lapid and said to him: "Yair, every Shabbat we bless the children: 'May the Lord make you like Ephraim and like Menashe, may my Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord turn to you and educate you, may the Lord lift up his face to you and give you peace'. Good luck brother."
Excited Lapid replied, "I have worked under various prime ministers, I have known them. You are a good man and an excellent prime minister, and you are a good friend. This is not a farewell ceremony because I have no intentions of parting from you."
At the end of the ceremony, the two were scheduled for a first overlap meeting.
Lapid's next stop was at the President's house, where he arrived with his wife, Lehi.
The two met with President Yitzhak Herzog and his wife Michal.
"You come to the position with a lot of experience, with many skills and after also proving considerable political ability," Herzov told Lapid.
"We've also had quite a few clashes in the past," he added with a smile.
"I wish you a lot of success, because your success is the success of the country."
Lapid at Yad Vashem, Photo: Kobi Gideon GPO
Excited, Lapid replied: "I'm glad you mentioned the clashes, because we did have them - while respecting each other, preserving the language and remembering that even if we have an argument, it is an argument for a common goal, a dispute for heaven's sake.
We will have a great test for Israeli society in the near future - how to keep the controversies for heaven's sake, or for the name of the State of Israel.
I came here to receive a reminder and a blessing of the road, precisely because it has been your way all your life. '
Shortly afterwards, Lapid's office announced the "hive" that would accompany him in the new role (see separate article).
The quick publicity was made possible thanks to the fact that Lapid actually takes with him the existing staff that has already worked with him in the Foreign Ministry and accompanies him for years.
Outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and incoming Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Photo: Kobi Gideon - GPO
On Sunday morning, Lapid will hold his first cabinet meeting.
In the first days of his tenure, he is expected to live in his private home in Tel Aviv and come to Jerusalem every morning, but in the near future he is expected to move to a secure apartment near the Prime Minister's residence in Balfour, which is under renovation and therefore not currently usable.
On Tuesday, Lapid will leave for Paris for his first political meeting with a senior figure - French President Emmanuel Macron.
On July 13, Ben Gurion Airport will receive US President Joe Biden, who will visit Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Saudi Arabia.
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