Yair Lapid has had difficult nights before, but few as humbling as this one.
As the Central Elections Committee works through the last of the ballot boxes and double envelopes, the updated results show the joint B'Yachad list, led by Naftali Bennett and Lapid, at 11 seats in the 26th Knesset. That is already a disappointment, after Tuesday night's exit polls had projected 12 to 14.
The real story, though, is what is happening inside the list. According to Srugim, seven of the 11 seats belong to Bennett's camp, leaving Lapid and Yesh Atid with just four.
For Lapid, it is a striking fall. The party that entered the Knesset with 19 seats in 2013, and stood at 24 as recently as 2022, now finds itself at the lowest point in its history. Its previous low was 11 seats in 2015.
The merger with Bennett was meant to strengthen both men. For now, at least, it seems to have done far more for one partner than the other.
Official results are expected to be certified on Nov. 4.
