Knesset member Karine Elharrar from Yesh Atid, one of the Knesset members closest to Yair Lapid, clarified this morning that her support for Lapid in the party leadership elections is not automatic.
In an interview with Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio), Elharrar addressed the expected primaries within the party and said, "You can't really think that everyone will do exactly as they're told on command. I don't accept the claim that everyone will vote like robots."
When asked who she would vote for, Elharrar surprised and said, "I don't know yet who I will vote for. Let's allow Ram Ben-Barak to present his platform first. I don't want to compete right now."
As mentioned, Knesset member Ram Ben-Barak from Yesh Atid announced yesterday that he intends to run against Yair Lapid for the leadership of the party in the elections that will be held in about two months. This morning, he made a pointed statement regarding his security experience compared to that of Lapid.
In an interview with Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio), Ben-Barak said, "If I stand at the helm of the party, no one will abandon it. I estimate that other demographics who do not currently vote for the party will say, 'If Ram Ben-Barak stands there with his record – we're joining Yesh Atid'."
Regarding the claim that he has no chance and that everyone will vote for Lapid, Ben-Barak said, "Not all Knesset members in the party are of one mind – there are some I know will be with me. More than one."