Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid announced a merger of their parties into Yachad ahead of Israel’s October election, aiming to replace long‑time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The move echoes their 2013 alliance that briefly ousted Netanyahu five years ago.

Bennett’s party, Bennett 2026, and Lapid’s Yesh Atid will pool votes under Bennett’s leadership. The new coalition promises an independent inquiry into the October 2023 Hamas attack and a pledge to hold “no territory to the enemy.”

Likud currently leads the polls with a projected 25+ seats in the 120‑member Knesset, but its coalition has fractured after the Gaza war and ongoing corruption trials. Yachad’s unified platform seeks to attract voters across Israel’s spectrum, from liberal center‑left to moderate right‑wing.

The merger could shift the balance of power, giving Yachad a realistic chance to form a government if it surpasses Likud’s seat count in the upcoming election.