It appears for Yair Lapid and his Yesh Atid (There is a Future) Party, it’s more about satisfying the polls then acting out of principle. After championing the struggle to correct chareidi injustices in Israel, Lapid appears to be breaking from this battlefront to launch an attack against Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Pollsters have informed Lapid’s election campaign officials that the time is right to direct his charisma at the Russian voting public and to take a break from chareidi bashing.

One of the more prominent election voices is that of Israel’s large Russian –speaking population, and Lapid’s campaign is now going after these very votes, the votes held previously by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu Party.

Lapid campaign officials have hired a public relations firm that addresses the Russian-speaking tzibur and ads are expected to appear in Russian publications and TV. Efforts are also underway to enlist a number of prominent people in the Russian community to the party list, Yisrael HaYom reports.

In other Yesh Atid news, the second slot on the party lineup was reportedly offered to Rabbi Shay Piron, the executive director of the Movement for the Advancement of Education in Israel. His bio on the organization’s website reads “prominent educator and public figure. He was formerly the Headmaster of the Yeshurun School which under his direction became the leading integrated girls’ high school in Israel (welcoming students with special needs to join the mainstream curriculum). He is among the founders and headmasters of the Hesder and High School Yeshivas in Petach Tikvah.

“In 2004, he was a member of the government appointed Dovrat Commission for educational reform in Israel. He is one of the leaders of the Tzohar rabbinical community and an active member of numerous charitable organizations supporting special-needs populations. Rabbi Shay Piron is a Ph.D. candidate in law and serves as the community rabbi in his hometown, Oranit. He is married with 6 children.”

It appears that Lapid offered him the education portfolio if such a reality is relevant following elections. Rabbi Piron has not yet responded to the offer.

Israel Radio reports Herzliya Mayor Yael German and Dimona Mayor Meir Cohen have announced they are joining Yesh Atid, seeking a spot on the party roster for the next Knesset.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)