Yesh Atid forgoes faction meeting, visits Old City instead

The Yesh Atid party decided to forgo the traditional faction meeting at the opening of the Knesset session and travel to the Lions’ Gate in Jerusalem to express support for the security services who are “working day and night to protect the people of Israel,” a statement from the party says.

“At the opening of the winter session of the Knesset Yesh Atid decided to meet here, at the Lions’ Gate, the scene of yet another terrorist attack,” the statement reads.

Party leader Yair Lapid offered his full support to the security services for their rapid response to the terror attack this morning, “The terrorist who tried to stab security forces was shot and killed; that is the right response. That should be the operating model; whoever comes at us with a knife needs to know that they will be shot. The field is full of security forces and we need to know that the aim is to calm, to calm the situation.”

Lapid criticized the members of the government and the Knesset who he said are exploiting the wave of terror attacks for political gain and said, “We are starting the winter session of the Knesset today by removing our motion of No Confidence in the government because this isn’t the time for politics. I deplore those who are trying to exploit the current situation for cheap political points or to garner credit, this isn’t the time. Our model should be unity internally and strength externally. That’s how we should work, that’s what Israel needs now, unity and a sense that everyone stands together in the face of a common enemy.”