Bennett and Lapid Form 'Together' Alliance to Challenge Netanyahu’s Right-Wing Rule
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Former Israeli Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have merged their parties into a new alliance, 'Together,' in a bid to end Benjamin Netanyahu’s reactionary and divisive leadership.
Former Israeli Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have announced the formation of a new political alliance named 'Together' (Beyachad in Hebrew), combining their respective parties, Bennett 2026 and Yesh Atid. This move is a calculated attempt to consolidate the fragmented opposition and finally challenge the entrenched, far-right rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the forthcoming elections, scheduled for no later than October.
Bennett will lead the unified list, with Lapid supporting his leadership. The alliance seeks to unite the opposition bloc and increase its chances of forming a government that can break the cycle of right-wing dominance. However, their refusal to work with Arab parties—an exclusionary stance that perpetuates the marginalization of Palestinian citizens of Israel—casts doubt on their ability to secure a true majority and build a genuinely inclusive government.
In an interview, Bennett unveiled his 'Israeli Renaissance' plan, which aims to bring one million new immigrants (olim) to Israel over the next decade, focusing on individuals from the United States, Britain, and Australia. This plan, rather than addressing the deep inequalities and occupation at the heart of Israeli society, prioritizes demographic engineering to reinforce the Jewish majority, sidestepping the rights and needs of Palestinians and other minorities. Bennett claimed the need to 'open a new chapter for Israel, leaving behind the incompetence of government ministers, the corruption, and the infighting,' but failed to address the systemic injustices perpetuated by successive governments.
Bennett also highlighted plans to strengthen Israel's global standing, lamenting that the country's international reputation is 'a catastrophe, especially in the United States.' He expressed concern that 'not only is the Democratic public hostile to Israel, but now significant parts of the Republican public are as well.' This reflects the growing global outrage at Israel’s ongoing occupation and human rights abuses, which neither Bennett nor Lapid have committed to ending.
The alliance between Bennett and Lapid is not their first collaboration. They previously formed a coalition government in 2021, with Bennett as prime minister and Lapid as foreign minister. That government, which failed to enact meaningful reforms or advance peace, lasted about a year before dissolving, leading to Netanyahu's return to power in the 2022 election. In this new agreement, there will be no rotation; Bennett will hold the prime minister position for the entire term, raising concerns about genuine power-sharing and democratic accountability.
Bennett expressed confidence in the durability of this alliance, stating that he is creating 'a governing alternative that would hold.' He acknowledged the challenges faced by their previous government but emphasized that this time, they are 'coming to fix' issues such as the surge in crime rates and inefficiencies in government ministries. Yet, without a commitment to justice and equality for all citizens, these promises ring hollow.
The 'Together' alliance marks a significant development in Israeli politics, as two prominent figures from different ideological backgrounds unite with the shared goal of unseating Netanyahu. However, unless they address the root causes of inequality and occupation, their promises of substantial reforms in governance and international relations will remain unfulfilled.