Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid join forces under unified party ahead of Israeli elections
The Jerusalem Post • • world
Key Points:
- Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid announced plans to form a united political party called "Together" for the upcoming Israeli elections, with Bennett leading the joint list, following an agreement signed on Saturday.
- The merger leaves space for Gadi Eisenkot, leader of Yashar!, to join, continuing talks about a broader alliance named “New Israel,” aiming to unify the opposition and focus on winning the elections.
- The announcement received mixed reactions: centrist and left-wing leaders like Benny Gantz, Yair Golan, and Avigdor Liberman welcomed the unification, emphasizing the need for broad Zionist unity and democratic values.
- Right-wing parties, including Likud, Religious Zionist Party, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, criticized the alliance, using inflammatory AI-generated images and rhetoric accusing Bennett and Lapid of aligning with Islamist groups.
- Bennett and Lapid framed their partnership as a move to end division and promote national repair, aiming to consolidate the opposition vote and challenge the current government.
