Two former Israeli prime ministers announced Sunday they are combining their political parties in an effort to defeat Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government in elections anticipated later this year.
Ex-prime ministers Naftali Bennett, representing the right wing, and centrist Yair Lapid released statements confirming the consolidation of Bennett’s “Bennett 2026” party with Lapid’s “There is a Future” party.
“This move is intended to unite the bloc, put an end to internal divisions, and focus all efforts on winning the critical upcoming elections – and leading Israel forward into the future,” opposition leader Lapid said.
According to Bennett’s office, the merged organization will operate under the name “Together,” with Bennett serving as party leader.
This political partnership marks another collaboration between Bennett and Lapid, who previously worked together to end Netanyahu’s continuous 12-year leadership following a 2021 election. Their coalition government lasted just 18 months before collapsing.
Earlier, in 2013, the duo successfully secured positions in Netanyahu’s coalition government, effectively excluding his customary ultra-Orthodox partners from power.
Netanyahu, who holds the record as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, returned to office after winning the November 2022 election and establishing what many consider Israel’s most right-wing government ever.
However, Hamas’s 2023 assault on southern Israel sparked regional chaos and forced Israel into conflicts on several fronts, severely damaging Netanyahu’s reputation for security leadership. Subsequent polling consistently indicates he faces defeat in the next election, scheduled by late October.
Despite his controversial status domestically and internationally, Netanyahu remains his generation’s most influential Israeli politician and has demonstrated exceptional political resilience throughout his career.
Recent polling data from Israel’s N12 News on April 23 showed Bennett potentially winning 21 seats in the 120-member Knesset, compared to 25 seats for Netanyahu’s Likud party. The 54-year-old Bennett, a former military commando who became a technology entrepreneur, has been gaining ground against Netanyahu in voter surveys.
The same poll projected Lapid’s party earning just seven seats, a significant drop from their current 24 seats. However, Netanyahu’s alliance of right-wing and religious parties would control only 50 seats, while Bennett and Lapid’s probable coalition with smaller groups could secure at least 60 seats.
These results align with other surveys from academic institutions and Israeli media outlets, which position Bennett as Netanyahu’s primary challenger, though political dynamics remain fluid.
Lapid, 62, is a charismatic former television news presenter who also writes popular music and novels. He represents Israel’s secular middle class, which has grown increasingly frustrated with what they view as unfair taxation and military service obligations.
Netanyahu’s ultra-religious coalition partners have been pushing for military service exemptions for their communities, who typically have low employment rates and receive substantial government assistance.
This contentious issue has gained urgency as military officials warn of being overstretched, with the past two years producing the highest military casualties in decades.
Both Lapid and Bennett have made military service equality a cornerstone of their campaign messaging. They have also attacked Netanyahu for his inability to convert military successes into strategic victories against Iran and its regional allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
