Mazaj News (Web Desk) Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has announced that he will form an alliance with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett ahead of the upcoming elections, in an effort to challenge and potentially unseat incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Lapid, who has also previously served as prime minister, said the two leaders will contest the parliamentary elections scheduled for October on a joint ticket. A formal announcement is expected later on Sunday.
In a post on X, Lapid stated that the two parties—Yesh Atid and Bennett’s “Bennett 2026” initiative—will merge into a single political platform under the leadership of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
He described the development as the beginning of what he called a “repair bloc,” aimed at unifying efforts to guide Israel toward what he termed necessary national rebuilding.
Both Lapid and Bennett have strongly criticized Netanyahu’s leadership, particularly regarding the handling of conflicts since October 2023. Lapid has also called the recent two-week ceasefire with Iran a “political disaster.”
Bennett, a right-wing politician and former supporter of West Bank settlements, and centrist leader Lapid previously joined forces in a coalition government formed in June 2021. That government collapsed in late 2022, paving the way for Netanyahu’s current administration. Bennett had earlier declared the coalition unworkable, after which Lapid briefly served as caretaker prime minister.
Recent opinion surveys indicate Bennett may have the strongest chance of defeating Netanyahu in the upcoming vote.
Bennett, 54, a former Israeli commando and tech entrepreneur who sold his startup for $145 million in 2005, has gained popularity, particularly among younger voters after the prolonged Gaza conflict. Once an adviser to Netanyahu, he later became one of his strongest political opponents.
Lapid, 62, son of late journalist and politician Tommy Lapid and writer Shulamit Lapid, began his political career in 2012 after a successful media career, founding the Yesh Atid party, which rose to become one of Israel’s major political forces. He has served as both opposition leader and briefly as prime minister.
Netanyahu, 76, leader of the Likud party, plans to lead his party into the elections, which must be held by the end of October. He remains Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, with over 18 years in office across multiple terms.