Former Israeli Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have announced the merger of their parties to form a new political entity named Together, which aims to challenge Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party in the upcoming elections. Bennett, a hawk who has shifted closer to the center, is seen as a formidable opponent to Netanyahu, especially following recent polls that show him neck-and-neck with the current prime minister. Lapid, who leads the centrist Yesh Atid party, supports the merger as a means to unify the opposition and end internal strife. The two previously led a coalition government that unseated Netanyahu but lasted only a year before losing power in 2022.

The current political landscape is marked by significant challenges, including ongoing conflicts with Iran and Hezbollah, and the controversial issue of military service for ultra-Orthodox men. Bennett and Lapid advocate for conscription, which is opposed by their religious coalition counterparts. As Israel faces both foreign and domestic pressures, public opinion appears to be shifting, with many citizens expressing fatigue over the prolonged military engagements. Polls indicate that the opposition could secure enough seats to form a coalition government, providing a potential path for change in Israeli politics.