Netanyahu rivals form 'Together' party for Israel vote

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid said on Sunday, May 19, 2024, that they are creating a new political party, “Together,” to compete in Israel’s next general election, which is expected by October.

The two politicians framed the move as an effort to replace the coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bennett was named leader of the new party, according to the announcement.

Merger of existing political vehicles

Officials said the new party combines Bennett’s 2026 party with Lapid’s Yesh Atid, forming a single electoral platform intended to consolidate opposition support.

The alliance was described as a renewed attempt by Bennett and Lapid to challenge Netanyahu’s hold on power, with the pair presenting a unified structure ahead of the expected election timeline.

Echoes of the 2021 coalition

Bennett and Lapid previously worked together in 2021 as part of a coalition that ended Netanyahu’s 12-year tenure at the time, officials noted.

That earlier coalition included the United Arab List and remained in office for about 18 months, highlighting both the potential and the fragility of multi-party governing arrangements in Israel’s parliamentary system.

Stated coalition limits and policy positions

In the new initiative, Bennett said “Together” would not seek a coalition with Arab parties and would not cede land.

Those positions were presented as responses to criticism and political vulnerabilities that emerged during the previous governing arrangement, setting clearer boundaries for potential post-election negotiations.

Polling snapshot points to tight race

Polling cited alongside the announcement suggested a closer contest than in recent cycles. A survey by Israel’s N12 News dated April 23 showed Bennett on 21 seats in the Knesset, while Netanyahu’s Likud was on 25 seats, and Lapid’s party was projected to win 7 seats.

The same snapshot put Netanyahu’s current coalition at 50 seats, while a broader alignment around Bennett and Lapid, including other factions, could reach more than 60 seats.

Israel’s parliament has 120 seats, and the figures underscored the central role of coalition-building in a fragmented political landscape. The cited estimates indicated that neither side would be assured of governing alone, leaving post-election talks with additional parties as a decisive step.

For markets and international stakeholders, the formation of “Together” highlighted that Israel’s political picture could remain fluid heading into an election expected by October. The outcome remains uncertain because the seat figures cited are based on a single poll and depend on whether other factions align with either camp after voting.