The stricter version of the Citizenship Law passed its first reading in the Knesset plenum on Monday, much to the dismay of a minority of lawmakers and Israelis. The extensive media coverage and criticism by Arab Ra'am and left-wing Meretz parties were all to be expected, as were the attempts by Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked to minimize her contribution to passing the legislation, which she had vehemently opposed just a few weeks prior.
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What was surprising, however, was Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's categorical opposition to the bill. There were no thinly-veiled attempts to criticize it, just interviews, statements, and Twitter posts lambasting the legislation and attributions to the far-Right.
The fact that Lapid himself said just a few months ago that "without the Citizenship Law there would be an increase in Palestinian terrorism," was not referred to at all, or "if the opposition votes against the law, it will prove that it cares more about opposing the government than supporting the state."
Lapid could have easily avoided commenting on the matter by giving a general answer or taking a quick trip abroad, but he chose not to.
In front of cameras, he and his party Yesh Atid demonstratively voted against the law that would de facto undermine the right of return.
Given Lapid's history of ridiculing settlement building in Judea and Samaria (as a journalist) and opposition to anything beyond the Green Line (as a politician), should we even be surprised?
But what is surprising is Lapid's ability to present everything mentioned above under the guise of moderatism.
He is viewed as someone who stands "for the good and against the bad," who loves the country and despises dirty politics, who fight for free education and against communism and antisemitism, and even loves Israel Defense Forces soldiers (which is considered a crime by leftists).
Now, all this is over. Lapid has joined the ranks of Ibtisam Mara'ana and Yair Golan by becoming the face of the left-wing camp in the Knesset, heralding the end of moderatism for Yesh Atid.
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