Two Former Israeli Prime Ministers Announce Merger Ahead of General Election

Ahead of the next Israeli general election, two former prime ministers who were rivals of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have decided to join forces. The move is aimed at ousting Netanyahu. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who leans right, and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who leans center, officially announced the merger of their respective parties, "The 2026 Party" and "Yesh Atid" (Future), via separate statements on the 26th (local time). The merged parties will be named "Together," with former Prime Minister Bennett serving as party leader.

The two former prime ministers have experience leading Israel in a coalition government following the 2021 general election. This coalition government collapsed after 18 months, and Prime Minister Netanyahu returned to power in 2022. Regarding the merger, former Prime Minister Lapid stated, "This is a step to consolidate the opposition bloc, end internal divisions, and focus all our energy on winning the next general election."

Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regained power after his defeat in the 2022 general election, predictions suggest he will lose in the upcoming general election scheduled for October. The alliance of former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, drawing on their past coalition experience, aims to secure more than 60 seats, potentially overwhelming Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc.

One of the key issues in this general election is the military exemption for Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews. Amidst rising casualties in the Israeli military and increasing troop shortages, Lapid and Bennett are targeting secular middle-class voters by making the fair fulfillment of military service their core campaign promise. They also criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu for failing to translate military achievements in the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran into strategic victories, appealing for support.

According to a recent opinion poll by Channel 12 News, Bennett's party was projected to win 21 seats, while Netanyahu's Likud party was projected to win 25 seats. Lapid's party was expected to secure only 7 seats. The analysis suggests that if the opposition coalition led by Bennett and Lapid allies with other smaller parties, it could secure at least 60 seats, overpowering Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc, which is projected to win around 50 seats.

Leaders of other opposition parties also welcomed the announcement of the merger. Key opposition figures, including Gadi Eisenkot of the centrist National Unity Party, Benny Gantz of the National Unity Party, Yair Golan of the Democratic Movement, and Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu, believe the merger will strengthen the check on Prime Minister Netanyahu.