The Media Line: Lapid Lays Out 6-Point Plan To Rebuild Israel’s Foreign Relations  

Lapid Lays Out 6-Point Plan To Rebuild Israel’s Foreign Relations  

By Gabriel Colodro / The Media Line   

Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid laid out six foreign policy priorities for a future Together (B’Yachad) government at the party’s National Security Conference in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, arguing that Israel can reverse its deteriorating international position by rebuilding alliances and restoring a coherent diplomatic strategy.  

“This diplomatic crisis was created not only because of the circumstances–but because of the negligence, arrogance, and amateurism of this Israeli government,” Lapid said Wednesday. He described foreign relations as inseparable from national security and essential to Israel’s military, technological and economic strength.  

Lapid placed repairing relations with the United States first, calling for Israel to restore bipartisan support and strengthen ties with constituencies ranging from young Americans to liberal Jewish communities. He rejected giving up on the US-Israel security memorandum of understanding.  

“The MOU must not be given up on. It must be fought for. Giving up on it is a serious mistake by Netanyahu,” Lapid said, proposing both a new security MOU and a separate scientific-technological agreement covering areas including nuclear energy, quantum technology and chips.  

His second priority was Europe, where he advocated rebuilding relations with the European Union, deepening NATO ties and engaging with hostile public opinion in Spain, France and Ireland rather than withdrawing diplomatically.  

Lapid identified repairing ties with Diaspora Jewry as the third goal, calling world Jewry “our family” as well as a strategic asset.  

Regional integration came fourth. Lapid identified Egypt and the United Arab Emirates as key partners and said normalization with Saudi Arabia should be pursued while preventing uranium enrichment on Saudi soil “at all costs.” He also called for Qatar to be designated an enemy state, accusing it of supporting Hamas and financing efforts to delegitimize Israel.  

On Turkey, Lapid said Ankara poses a threat, particularly in Syria, and called Monday night’s Israeli strike on a Syrian airport justified. But he argued Israel should attempt to reduce tensions before entering a direct confrontation with a regional power and establish a mechanism to manage potential conflicts.  

Lapid’s fifth objective was integrating economic and foreign policy, including coordinated government efforts to expand opportunities for Israeli high-tech and defense industries.  

His final priority was rebuilding Israel’s public diplomacy operation for younger and social-media audiences.  

“Much more Noa Tishby, much less Orit Strock,” Lapid said.  

Caption: Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid speaks at Together (B’Yachad) conference in Tel Aviv on August 19. (Elad Gutman)