Now that his Yesh Atid party has been officially registered, Yair Lapid met on Tuesday with President Shimon Peres to get some advice from Israel’s most experienced politician and the blessing of the head of state.

Lapid left his regular uniform of black pants and T-shirt at home and came to Jerusalem in a suit and tie, accompanied by some of his supporters.

The budding politician told Peres that after registering his party two weeks ago, he considered it a matter of importance to present its platform to the president.

Lapid said that he was under the impression that most of the Israeli public was not properly represented in the Knesset, and said that his party is seeking to change the political system, infuse it with new strength and reform the government.

Peres congratulated Lapid on entering the political arena. Israeli politics is in need of rehabilitation and change, the president said.

The younger generation is critical of the system and something should be done to repair it without waiting for others to do so. (© 1995- 2011, The Jerusalem Post 07/11/12)