Yesh Atid Chair Yair Lapid on Wednesday responded to news that the president had tasked him with forming a government, calling for a unity government.

"This evening, President Rivlin tasked me with forming an Israeli unity government.

"After two years of political paralysis, Israeli society is hurting.

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"A unity government isn’t a compromise or a last resort - it’s a goal, it’s what we need.

"We need a government that will reflect the fact that we don’t hate one another. A government in which left, right and center will work together to tackle the economic and security challenges we face. A government that will show that our differences are a source of strength, not weakness."