Netanyahu’s biggest rivals join forces for Israel’s coming election
Two former prime ministers unite to oust Netanyahu's coalition government.
Two of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's most formidable political rivals, former prime ministers Naftali Bennett (right-wing) and Yair Lapid (centrist), announced on Sunday they are joining forces to challenge his coalition government in the upcoming election expected later this year. The merger brings together Bennett's Bennett 2026 party and Lapid's There is a Future party into a new party called Together, with Bennett as its leader.
This alliance mirrors a previous collaboration in 2021 that ended Netanyahu's consecutive 12-year tenure, forming a fragile coalition government that lasted barely 18 months due to deep divisions over issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Now, both leaders aim to leverage their combined political weight to unseat Netanyahu once again, with Lapid stating, "We are standing here together for the sake of our children. The State of Israel must change direction." Bennett added, "After 30 years it is time to part with Netanyahu and open a new chapter for Israel."
- Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid merge their parties, Bennett 2026 and There is a Future, into a new party called Together.
- Bennett will lead the new party, aiming to challenge Netanyahu's coalition in the upcoming election.
- The duo previously collaborated in 2021 to end Netanyahu's 12-year tenure, but their coalition lasted only 18 months.
Why It Matters
This merger reshapes Israel's political landscape, potentially ending Netanyahu's long tenure and altering policy direction.