Lapid: We inherited a government in total disarray

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid says he found governmental ministries in a state of “unbelievable disarray and neglect,” when his coalition took power last week.

“We aren’t starting from zero, but below zero,” he says at the start of a meeting for his Yesh Atid faction, urging the public to be patient in seeing results from the transition of power.

He praises Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for his workmanlike attitude and attempts to bridge divides between varying viewpoints.

“I apologize to you journalists ahead of time, this government will be a lot less interesting than the last one. We didn’t come to argue, but to work,” he says.

He also chides the opposition for trying to stymie a measure most of them actually support, an extension of limits on family unification for Palestinians and Israelis.

“The role of the opposition is to oppose and bring down the government, I get that,” Lapid, the former opposition leader, says. “But there are also shared goals — that the country succeed, prosper, be strong and secure.”

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu is set to give remarks while meeting with other opposition party heads in the coming minutes.