Israel: Two Former Prime Ministers Unite to Oust Netanyahu

Israel's former Prime Ministers are joining forces to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.

In separate statements on Sunday, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid announced the merger of their respective parties, "Bennett 2026" and "There is a Future." The primary objective of this alliance is to unify a fractured opposition that, despite internal ideological differences, finds common ground in its opposition to Netanyahu.

Bennett's office confirmed that the new party will be named "Together" and will be under his leadership. During a joint televised address, Bennett stated that he was pleased to announce this "Zionist and patriotic step" for the country alongside his friend Yair Lapid.

Lapid characterized Bennett as an honest right-wing politician, noting the mutual trust between them. He emphasized that the move aims to eliminate division, build unity, and concentrate all efforts on winning the upcoming crucial elections.

Bennett also pledged that, if elected, he would establish a national commission to investigate the failures leading up to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks—a move the current Netanyahu government has rejected. Both leaders have been vocal critics of Netanyahu's handling of the war following those attacks, with Lapid recently describing a two-week ceasefire with Iran as a "political disaster."

This is not the first time the duo has collaborated; they successfully ended Netanyahu's 12-year rule in 2021 by forming a coalition, though that government lasted only 18 months. Netanyahu returned to power in November 2022, forming the most right-wing government in Israel's history. However, his leadership on security has been heavily questioned following the October 7 attacks and the subsequent Gaza war. Recent opinion polls suggest he may face defeat in the next election.