Bennett and Lapid Launch Beyahad Party to Take On Netanyahu in 2026 Elections

JERUSALEM – (Web Desk) – Two former Israeli prime ministers have joined hands to form the Beyahad party, making their biggest political move yet to remove Benjamin Netanyahu from power.

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid made the surprise announcement on Sunday, saying they will run together on a single list in this year’s national elections. The word “Beyahad” means “Together” in Hebrew — and that is exactly the message both leaders want to send to Israeli voters tired of the current government.

“Tonight, we are uniting and opening a new era for our beautiful country,” Bennett said during a joint televised address with Lapid.

A Partnership Built on a Common Goal

Bennett made it clear from the start that this union is about more than just winning votes. He called it the most patriotic decision he has ever made for Israel. Lapid, who stood by his side, was equally direct.

“Bennett is a right-wing politician, but an honest one, and there is trust between us,” Lapid said.

That trust is at the heart of this new alliance. The two men come from different sides of the political spectrum, but they share one clear goal — replacing Netanyahu as prime minister.

What the Beyahad Party Stands For

One of Bennett’s first promises if elected is to set up a national investigation into the failures that led to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. This is something Netanyahu’s government has refused to do, and it remains a deeply painful issue for many Israeli families.

Bennett and Lapid have both been sharp critics of how Netanyahu has handled the wars that followed that attack. Lapid went as far as calling a recent two-week ceasefire with Iran a “political disaster,” suggesting the current leadership is making serious mistakes on the world stage.

Who Is Naftali Bennett?

Bennett, 54, was born to American immigrant parents and built his early career in the high-tech industry. He sold his startup in 2005 for $145 million. Before entering politics, he served as an elite commando officer in the Israeli military — a background that still earns him respect, especially among younger Israelis who have watched the Gaza war unfold over the past two years.

He once worked closely with Netanyahu as his adviser, but the two men have drifted far apart. Over the years, Bennett led several right-wing parties before forming a broad unity government in 2021 — the first in Israel’s history to include an Arab political party.

That government collapsed after about a year, and Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022.

Lapid, 62, comes from a well-known Israeli family. His father, Tommy Lapid, was a Holocaust survivor who became a journalist and later a government minister. His mother, Shulamit Lapid, is a celebrated author.

Lapid himself spent years as a popular television journalist before launching his political career in 2012. He founded the Yesh Atid party, which grew into the second-largest political force in the country. He briefly served as prime minister before Netanyahu returned to office.

Since then, Lapid has led the opposition — and now he is stepping aside to back Bennett as the face of their joint campaign.

Polls Favor Bennett to Beat Netanyahu

Current opinion polls show that Bennett is the opposition figure most likely to defeat Netanyahu in the October election. His military background, straight-talking style, and distance from the political establishment make him attractive to a wide range of voters.

Bennett also reached out on Sunday to Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the centrist Yashar party, asking him to join the new alliance. Eisenkot welcomed the announcement and confirmed he had spoken with Bennett shortly before it was made public.

Netanyahu Prepares to Fight Back

Benjamin Netanyahu, 76, is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, with over 18 combined years in office. He leads the right-wing Likud party and has confirmed he will head their list in the upcoming election, which must take place no later than the end of October 2026.

Netanyahu is no stranger to political battles, and his supporters remain loyal. But the formation of the Beyahad party signals that the opposition is more organized and unified than it has been in years.

The next few months will be critical. Bennett and Lapid must convince enough Israeli voters that change is not just possible — but necessary. Their message is simple: the country needs new leadership, accountability for October 7, and a government that represents all Israelis, not just one political camp.

Whether that message is strong enough to end Netanyahu’s hold on power remains to be seen. But with the Beyahad party now officially in the race, the 2026 Israeli elections just got a lot more competitive.