Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have merged their parties ahead of elections later this year
Former Israeli prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have formed a unity party to oust Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in elections later this year.
Right-wingers Bennett and centrist Lapid on Sunday confirmed the merger of their parties, Bennett 2026 and Yesh Atid, into a single list called ‘Together, led by Bennett’, which they described as an effort to strengthen the opposition and improve their chances in the vote, which should be held before the end of October.
Bennett told reporters that the Army was to join “The most Zionist and patriotic thing we have ever done for the sake of our country,” add it “The era of division is over.” Lapid said: “We stand together here for the sake of our children. The State of Israel must change direction.”
Widely seen as Netanyahu’s most formidable political rivals, the two have joined forces before, forming a short-term alliance after the 2021 elections ended his 12-year tenure. “Government of Change” A coalition that includes right-wing, centrist and left-wing parties.
That coalition included the Mansour Abbas-led Arab party Ra’am, marking the first time that a party representing Israel’s Palestinian minority joined a governing coalition. Netanyahu returned to power by winning the November 2022 elections.
The new partnership will run as a unified list without formally merging their parties, and both have said they will try to form a government with only Zionist opposition parties while excluding Arab factions. Bennett also said his government would push for a universal conscription law, stop funding for draft evasion and impose an eight-year term limit for the Prime Minister.
A recent Maariv poll showed Bennett’s party tied with Netanyahu’s Likud on 24 Knesset seats, while Yesh Atid is polling at about six to seven seats.
Netanyahu’s tenure has come under strain since Israel launched a military operation in Gaza following a Hamas attack in October 2023, which killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostage. According to Palestinian health officials, Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks have killed more than 72,000 people and injured more than 172,000. Polls indicate that Netanyahu may lose the next election.
The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Domestically, Netanyahu is facing a long-running corruption trial. Charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three cases, he denied wrongdoing and described the case as political witchcraft. The trial resumed this week after being halted during the Iran war, with no resolution in sight. President Isaac Herzog has indicated that any pardon would be considered only after plea deal efforts are concluded.
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