2 Former Israeli Prime Ministers Agree To Merge Parties Against Netanyahu
JERUSALEM (AP) — Two leading Israeli politicians said Sunday they will join forces in upcoming elections in a joint effort to oust the long-serving Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The aim of this move is to unite the bloc, put an end to internal divisions and focus all efforts on winning the next critical elections,” Lapid’s Yesh Atid party said in a statement. he said.
Bennett and Lapid planned a joint news conference later Sunday.
The 2021 coalition agreement ended the 12-year Netanyahu rule. Bennett served as prime minister for the first year until their coalition fell apart. Lapid then held the top job as interim prime minister for the last six months until new elections returned Netanyahu to power.
Lapid has since served as Israel’s opposition leader, while Bennett has taken a break from politics.
The two men have ideological differences. Bennett is an Orthodox Jew with strict views against Palestinians, while Lapid is seen as secular and more moderate. But they enjoyed a close working relationship during their short-lived coalition.
Their alliance aims to unite a fragmented opposition that appears to have little in common beyond their shared hostility to Netanyahu.
