Bennett, Lapid Unite Parties to Challenge Netanyahu

Two former Israeli prime ministers have agreed to merge their political parties ahead of upcoming elections in a coordinated attempt to defeat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and consolidate a divided opposition. Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid announced on Sunday that they would form a joint political faction, with Bennett set to lead the combined party. The move marks a renewed partnership between the two leaders, who previously shared power under a coalition government formed in 2021.

Get today's headlines by email

Lapid’s Yesh Atid party said the merger was designed to strengthen the opposition bloc and improve its chances in the next national vote.

“The move is intended to unite the bloc, put an end to internal divisions and focus all efforts on winning the critical upcoming elections,” the party said in a statement.

The two politicians planned to appear together at a news conference later on Sunday to outline the agreement.

Renewed partnership

Bennett and Lapid previously worked together in a power-sharing arrangement that briefly removed Netanyahu from office. Their 2021 coalition brought together an unusually broad alliance of parties with differing ideological positions.

Under the deal, Bennett served as prime minister first, with Lapid scheduled to take over later in the term.

The coalition ended Netanyahu’s 12 consecutive years in power at the time. Bennett held the premiership during the government’s first year before the alliance began to unravel amid internal disputes.

As the coalition collapsed, Lapid assumed the role of caretaker prime minister for the final six months of the government’s term. Subsequent elections returned Netanyahu to office.

Different political backgrounds

Since that election, Lapid has led Israel’s parliamentary opposition. Bennett, meanwhile, stepped away from political life after the collapse of the coalition government.

Despite having governed together, the two leaders represent different political traditions within Israeli politics.

Bennett is an Orthodox Jew who has taken a more hard-line stance on issues related to the Palestinians. Lapid, by contrast, is secular and generally viewed as a more moderate political figure.

Even so, the two men developed a cooperative working relationship during their time in government, helping them manage the diverse coalition that temporarily replaced Netanyahu’s long-running administration.

Attempt to unify opposition

The planned party merger reflects an effort to consolidate Israel’s opposition landscape, which has been fragmented across several political factions.

Analysts have long noted that the various opposition parties share few ideological similarities. However, many are united in their desire to challenge Netanyahu’s continued leadership.

By combining their parties into a single political force, Bennett and Lapid appear to be seeking greater cohesion among anti-Netanyahu voters ahead of the next election.

Their alliance signals a renewed attempt to build a viable alternative to the current government, which returned Netanyahu to power after the previous coalition collapsed.

Whether the merger can overcome the opposition’s broader ideological divisions remains unclear, but both leaders are presenting the move as a necessary step toward mounting a stronger electoral challenge.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 27 April 2026