Arabic version: بينيت ولابيد يحييان التحالف لتحدي قيادة نتنياهو

Former Israeli prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have announced that they will resume the alliance that last toppled Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in 2021, which at the time ended the latter’s 12-year hold on the country’s leadership. The two leaders held a press conference in Herzliya, where Bennett declared the formation of the ‘Together’ party under his leadership.

According to Al Jazeera, a poll published by the Jerusalem Post indicates that this new alliance may struggle, projected to win four fewer seats than their former parties would achieve independently. This scenario poses a challenge as they aim to surpass Netanyahu’s Likud Party in the upcoming elections.

The previous partnership between Bennett and Lapid, which formed a broad coalition including right-wing, centrist, and left-wing parties, was marked by significant achievements such as passing a budget and stabilizing governance. However, infighting and policy disagreements ultimately led to the coalition’s collapse in 2022.

Critics have raised concerns about the implications of the renewed alliance for Palestinians. Both Bennett and Lapid have historically supported aggressive policies towards Gaza and the West Bank. Bennett’s opposition to a Palestinian state and his controversial statements regarding military action against Palestinians highlight the potential continuity of hardline policies.

Political analysts suggest that while Bennett and Lapid’s alliance represents a significant move against Netanyahu, the outcome remains uncertain. Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption charges and political challenges could impact his hold on power, but his nationalist appeal continues to resonate with many Israelis. As the political landscape evolves, the future of the anti-Netanyahu bloc remains to be seen.