Netanyahu's main rivals join forces ahead of elections

TT

Updated 08.46 | Published 08.43

 

Israel's former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid will announce their joint election campaign at a press conference on Sunday. Photo: Ariel Schalit/AP/TT

Two of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main rivals are joining forces in the hope of toppling the government in Israel's upcoming elections.

Right-wing Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid - both former prime ministers in Israel - are joining forces in the new party Beyahad, Hebrew for "together".

The party will be led by Bennett, who according to polls has the best chance of defeating Netanyahu in the election.

“I am proud that two leaders with different views can fight together,” he writes on X, continuing:

“The unity between us is a message to the entire people of Israel: The era of division is over.”

Bennett and Lapid have teamed up before. In 2021-2022, they led a short-lived coalition government with a rotating prime ministership.

Elections must be held by October 27.