A big change is being seen in Israeli politics. The country's former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have together decided to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the elections. Elections are likely to be held in Israel by the end of this year. On Sunday, both the leaders announced that their parties Bennett 2026 and Yesh Atid will now contest the elections together.
This new alliance has been named Together, which will be led by Bennett. The purpose of the alliance is to unite the opposition, which is currently scattered. Bennett said that this step is inspired by patriotism and Zionist thinking for the country. Lapid said that even though Bennett is a right-wing leader, he is honest and there is trust between the two.
Together! https://t.co/q6VU5DlLgz
— Naftali Bennett (@naftalibennett) April 26, 2026
bennett
Lapid also said that the purpose of this alliance is to end internal differences, win elections and take Israel forward. Bennett also promised that if his government is formed, a national commission will be formed to investigate security lapses before the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. The current Netanyahu government has so far refused to conduct such an investigation.
Lapid and Bennett have come together before. In the 2021 elections, both of them together ended Netanyahu's 12-year-long rule and formed the government, but this alliance could last only for 18 months. Earlier in 2013 too, both of them had joined Netanyahu's government and ousted his traditional allies.
Netanyahu has been the longest serving Prime Minister of Israel. He returned again in November 2022 and formed the right-wing government of the country. But the Hamas attack in October 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza have damaged their image. Recent surveys are showing that he may lose the next election.
According to a survey, in the 120-seat parliament, Bennett may get 21 seats and Netanyahu's party Likud may get 25 seats. Whereas Lapid's party is expected to get only 7 seats, which earlier were 24 seats. Bennett, 54, is a former army commando and tech businessman, while Lapid, 62, is a former TV anchor and describes himself as the voice of Israel's middle class.
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