I never knew much about Israel, but about a little over a year ago I saw on CNN a picture of Lapid. I immediately started following Israeli politics because lapid is soooooooooooooooooooo good looking it's crazy. I have some Arab friends out here and there was a funny joke going around about lapid. they were saying "god I hope Lapid doesn't win the elections, because Obama has done nothing but embarrass Israel and Netanyahu, but if lapid wins, Obama is going to fall in love with Israel and it's PM because he looks exactly like George Clooney, and if you have ever seen any interviews with Obama and he's asked about Clooney, his cheeks turn red and he gushes with a smile saying "yeah George is my best friend in the world", and if lapid wins, Obama would probably fall in love with him too". isn't that a funny joke? god I love lapid so much my knees are shaking just thinking of him. Israel please elect him! the world would change its tune and just be mesmerized by him, like I am. god he's good looking!

The same magazine that demonizes Israel and Jews on its cover as "imperialists" aggressors" on a regular basis, as well as the preference of Time to show photoshopped images of kids murdered by hamas and syria - and then re-purpose them with the headers of "massacre by Israel." Lapid needs to demand a retraction of this "honor" if he is to be deemed a legitimate Israeli politician

Remember Muhammad Dahlan, that fine up-and-coming young man hailing out of Gaza ? Time ragazine was fawning all over him too.

by their approval of him, does TIME believe Yair will not benefit Israel?

and my account at Bank Leumi

Let's all watch and see how long it takes for this leftist propaganda rag to start making the case for the nobel peace prize.

he gets to Bibi s ankle-high.

...this is not American Idol,it's politics,where people are supposed to be elected on their policies,not their appearance.This is what happened with obama,when he fooled Americans with his charisma and speaking skills and then turned out to be an empty suit.

He is good looking and dumb. Not good enough. And who the hell cares what obama thinks?????

Let's hope Yair Lapid's influence will grow in Israel and the Middle East. This may be the "Israeli Spring" that was long overdue during Netanyahu's wasted years. Time Magazine is wise to direct attention to the positive changes that are at the starting point in Israel.

A nobody who for 25 years of his adult life has never done anything useful to his people but is the great hope and change

for Bar Rafaeli.

He managed to keep Shas out the coalition but other than that what has the man actually done other than boast about how well he did and announce he intends to be the next PM? This is a finance minister who has yet to even put forward his first budget to be voted on. One of the main reasons he did so well was because Likud took to much for granted and just assumed they would win so they didn't run a very good campaign and many Likd voters decided as their boy Bibi was going to win anyway they might go with somebody else some went with Bennet and others Lapid. Nobody trusted Shelly so Lapid got alot of Labor votes and of course he ran a populist anti haredi campaign. Time was always a controversial leftist magazine but making Lapid man of the year at this stage of his political career ( about 4 months ) how do they justify making Lapid of the year? Maybe with a shortage of arab leaders to make man of the year they decided to try be comical.

next prime minster.

Lapid may turn out to be anything. He could even turn into a Hassid. A saviour of religion. A Rabbi Lapid, now that would be something! The Israeli electorate likes to spring a supprise every now and then, but seems to shoot them down after one or two elections.

Israeli politics is a matter of life and death. "Israel please elect him! the world would change its tune and just be mesmerized by him, like I am. god he's good looking!" Jenny - are you an adult woman or a teenage girl? I'm asking because you sound ridiculously childish and immature. Also - are you familiar with the concepts of God Given Rights, Independence, Sovereignty, Democracy etc? Should millions of Israelis elect Lapid so that you can admire him? This is a sign no doubt of narcissism in extreme. If we Israelis fancy an American actress or supermodel, does it mean we can request America to elect her President of the United States? I'm just asking, because that is equivalent to your statement.

Jenna, that is without a doubt the most shallow comment I have ever seen on Y-Net or anywhere else for that matter. How old are you? Maybe 14? Do you have any idea what is going on around you or is all boys and your looks? Grow up!

long ago--Areal wait of "TIME"

Accordingly to my researches,anyone can pay Times ,or any other magazine for the matter, in order to have a name put into public flashlight . Stay tuned because if Lapid wins, mediocrity (and worse)wins,and Israel is doomed. Lapid is dangerous.Don´t let him gain more strength and power. I´d published in many places around the world about the danger of Olmert and eventhough he was put in power with gloomy results. With Lapid, will be worse. Thanks for your attention.

I am canceling my subscription: this is wrong information

So many uninformed commentators here who clearly have no idea what Lapid thinks and says. He has been writing journalistic commentaries for many years, consistently mainstream Israeli, consistently Centrist. He is loved by most Israelis who know very well the level of his patriotic purity. Critics of Lapid on this English language board can only be ashamed of their ignorance and arrogance.

Define "patriotism". "Well written columns". Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - that's your subjective statement and opinion. Please separate between facts and your personal opinions. I've read many of Lapid's columns and they don't impress me one bit. Primitive language, poorly and incoherently written - that's the trademarks of Lapid's columns. Naturally, that is my own opinion, but my opinion is no less valid than yours. I didn't know that 19 seats out 120 in the Knesset is "mainstream". Lapid has less than 1/6th of the electorate's votes. Since the conservative block and Avodah outnumber Yesh Atid, it begs to question what really is "mainstream" in Israel. Lambasting people's opinions in the name of democracy smells like the very despotism you claim you eschew. A puralistic society cannot have one single opinion on every single matter - even if you happen to admire Lapid.