Two of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s most formidable political rivals said on Sunday they were joining forces in a bid to oust his coalition government in the upcoming election expected later this year.
The former prime ministers – right-wing Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid – issued statements announcing the merger of their parties, Bennett 2026 and There is a Future.
“This move is intended to unite the bloc, put an end to internal divisions, and focus all efforts on winning the critical upcoming elections – and leading Israel forward into the future,” opposition leader Lapid said.
Bennett’s office said the new party will be called Together, and that he will be its leader.
Bennett and Lapid have joined forces before, putting an end to Netanyahu’s successive 12-year tenure in a 2021 election, only to form a coalition government that survived barely 18 months.
ראש הממשלה לשעבר, נפתלי בנט ואני נכריז היום על צעד ראשון בתהליך התיקון של מדינת ישראל: חיבור של מפלגת ׳יש עתיד׳ ומפלגת ׳בנט 2026׳ למפלגה מאוחדת בראשות ראש הממשלה לשעבר, נפתלי בנט.
המהלך מביא לאיחוד גוש התיקון, ומאפשר להשקיע את כל המאמצים להובלת ישראל לתיקון הנדרש.
— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) April 26, 2026