Former prime ministers Lapid and Bennett join forces under a new party “Together,”

Former Israeli prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid announced a joint political run on Sunday, unveiling a unified party ahead of the upcoming national elections. The new alliance, named “Together” (ביחד), will be led by Bennett and is expected to reshape Israel’s political landscape.

The move merges Bennett’s Bennett 2026 party with Lapid’s Yesh Atid, forming a single electoral list designed to unify a fragmented opposition bloc.

A STRATEGIC MERGER

The agreement, finalized over the weekend, positions Bennett at the head of the joint list, with Lapid calling on centrist voters to rally behind the new leadership.

Both leaders framed the merger as a national necessity rather than a traditional left-right alignment. “This is not about right or left, but about forming a government for all of Israel,” Bennett said during the announcement.

The alliance is widely seen as an attempt to consolidate opposition forces and increase the chances of unseating long-time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

POLITICAL CONTEXT

Bennett and Lapid previously cooperated in 2021, forming a coalition government that ended Netanyahu’s 12-year tenure before collapsing after roughly 18 months.

Their renewed partnership comes amid declining public confidence in the current government and ongoing political fragmentation within the opposition.

The upcoming elections, expected by October 2026, are likely to serve as a key test of whether a unified centrist-right bloc can successfully challenge Netanyahu’s political dominance.

KEY ELEMENTS OF THE ALLIANCE

• Unified party: Merger of Yesh Atid and Bennett 2026
• Leadership: Bennett to head the joint list
• Positioning: Broad “big tent” appeal across center and right
• Objective: Consolidate opposition and secure electoral victory

LOOKING AHEAD

The new party has also left the door open for additional figures, including former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, to join the list, signaling an effort to broaden its electoral base.

Analysts describe the move as one of the most significant political realignments in recent years, potentially marking the beginning of a new phase in Israeli politics centered on bloc consolidation rather than fragmentation.