Former prime ministers Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett announced that their parties will merge ahead of Israel's upcoming election in an effort to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The new party, to be called Yachad, meaning 'together,' will be led by Bennett. The two leaders described the alliance as a first step toward healing national divisions and presenting a united alternative to Netanyahu's long rule.

Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, currently leads a conservative and religious coalition that has weakened in popularity since the October 2023 Hamas-led attack and the subsequent wars in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon. Public anger has grown over security failures, ongoing conflict, judicial overhaul efforts, and Netanyahu's corruption trial. Bennett has pledged to establish an independent commission of inquiry into the October 2023 attack if elected.

Polls show Netanyahu's Likud party leading, but his broader coalition is not expected to secure a majority in its current form. By joining forces, Bennett and Lapid hope to attract voters from across the political spectrum, from the liberal center-left to moderate right-wingers, and position their new party as the strongest challenger capable of forming the next government after the election expected by October.