Main Opposition Leaders Hold Talks Over Merger to Unseat Netanyahu

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid are holding contacts on the potential formation of a joint political party ahead of upcoming elections, according to a Channel 12 report.

The proposed party, tentatively named “New Israel,” would aim to unify parts of the opposition into a single electoral list to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to the report, representatives for the three figures are discussing a possible merger, including a plan to hold primaries in 15 regions across the country to determine leadership of the combined slate.

Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar! party, has previously promoted the idea of a merger with both Bennett and Lapid, as opposition figures explore ways to consolidate support.

Recent polling has shown Bennett’s Bennett 2026 party and Eisenkot’s Yashar! among the strongest factions in the opposition, each projected to win around 16 seats. Lapid’s Yesh Atid, currently the largest opposition party, has seen declining support in surveys, dropping close to the electoral threshold in some projections.

A combined list of Bennett, Eisenkot, and Lapid could secure roughly 38 seats, potentially making it the largest faction in the Knesset, according to polling cited in the report.

Despite that, bloc-level dynamics remain largely unchanged, with neither the current coalition nor the opposition projected to reach a governing majority without support from Arab parties.

Bennett and Lapid previously formed a government in 2021 with the support of Ra’am, though Bennett has since said he would not rely on Arab parties in a future coalition.