Former Israeli PMs Bennett and Lapid unite to challenge Netanyahu

Former Israeli Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have merged their political parties to form a new alliance called Together.

The move aims to consolidate the fragmented opposition and challenge the current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming elections expected later this year.

The alliance was officially announced on April 26, 2026, with Bennett 2026 and There is a Future parties merging under Bennett's leadership.

Both politicians issued a joint televised statement emphasizing their shared goal of uniting the opposition despite ideological differences.

Bennett, a right-wing politician, and Lapid, a centrist, have been vocal critics of Netanyahu's government, particularly regarding its handling of security issues following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack.

Bennett stated that if elected, he would establish a national commission of inquiry into the failures leading up to that attack, a proposal rejected by the current government.

This alliance is significant as it represents a strategic effort to end Netanyahu's long tenure as Israel's longest-serving prime minister.

Netanyahu returned to power after winning the November 2022 election and formed the most right-wing government in Israel's history.

Bennett and Lapid have previously collaborated to end Netanyahu's 12-year rule in 2021, forming a coalition government that lasted about 18 months.

Their new alliance, Together, seeks to overcome internal divisions within the opposition and focus on winning the critical upcoming elections.

Lapid described Bennett as an honest right-wing politician and expressed trust in their partnership.

The alliance aims to lead Israel forward by uniting different political factions against Netanyahu's coalition.

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