[[{"content_id":416862,"content_number":0,"portal_id":2,"lang_id":"en","content_title":"Former Zionist PMs join forces to dethrone Netanyahu in upcoming elections","content_rtitr":"","content_short_title":null,"content_summary":"Two former Israeli prime ministers have said they would join forces in upcoming elections expected later this year in a bid to dethrone longtime prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.","content_summary_fill":1,"content_body":"On Sunday, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, who previously shared power under a rotation agreement, announced plans to merge their parties into a single political faction led by Bennett.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe move is intended to bring together opposition forces that have remained divided in recent years.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&quot;The move is intended to unite the bloc, put an end to internal divisions and focus all efforts on winning the critical upcoming elections,&quot; Lapid&rsquo;s Yesh Atid party said in a statement.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe two politicians previously led a coalition cabinet formed in 2021, which ended more than a decade of Netanyahu&rsquo;s rule at the time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUnder their agreement, Bennett functioned as prime minister during the first year before the coalition collapsed. Lapid then assumed the role of caretaker prime minister for the final six months.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSubsequent elections returned Netanyahu to power.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince then, Lapid has filled the position of head of the opposition, while Bennett stepped away from political life.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDespite notable differences, the two maintained a close working relationship during their time in the cabinet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nObservers commenting on the development said the Zionist regime&#39;s fragmented opposition has little in common, but shared disagreement with Netanyahu&#39;s acts as a uniting force.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe announcement of the pending alliance came amid raucous outcry within the regime over mismanagement and loopholes blamed on Netanyahu and his officials regarding the events of October 7, 2023.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe day saw Palestinian resistance fighters stage a historic operation against the regime, venturing deep into the occupied territories, encircling bases, and ensnaring hundreds of settlers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRegime officials and settlers have also been piling pressure on Netanyahu over the sprawling destruction and significant casualties that have resulted from Iran&#39;s and regional resistance movements&#39; daring retaliatory strikes in the face of Tel Aviv&#39;s unprovoked aggression.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAdditionally, the Zionist regime&#39;s prime minister has been grappling with a corruption scandal featuring bribery, fraud, and breach of trust for years, which has prompted his key ally and supporter, US President Donald Trump, to try to intervene to secure him a pardon.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;","content_html":"<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">On Sunday, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, who previously shared power under a rotation agreement, announced plans to merge their parties into a single political faction led by Bennett.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">The move is intended to bring together opposition forces that have remained divided in recent years.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">&quot;The move is intended to unite the bloc, put an end to internal divisions and focus all efforts on winning the critical upcoming elections,&quot; Lapid&rsquo;s Yesh Atid party said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">The two politicians previously led a coalition cabinet formed in 2021, which ended more than a decade of Netanyahu&rsquo;s rule at the time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Under their agreement, Bennett functioned as prime minister during the first year before the coalition collapsed. Lapid then assumed the role of caretaker prime minister for the final six months.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Subsequent elections returned Netanyahu to power.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Since then, Lapid has filled the position of head of the opposition, while Bennett stepped away from political life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Despite notable differences, the two maintained a close working relationship during their time in the cabinet.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Observers commenting on the development said the Zionist regime&#39;s fragmented opposition has little in common, but shared disagreement with Netanyahu&#39;s acts as a uniting force.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">The announcement of the pending alliance came amid raucous outcry within the regime over mismanagement and loopholes blamed on Netanyahu and his officials regarding the events of October 7, 2023.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">The day saw Palestinian resistance fighters stage a historic operation against the regime, venturing deep into the occupied territories, encircling bases, and ensnaring hundreds of settlers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Regime officials and settlers have also been piling pressure on Netanyahu over the sprawling destruction and significant casualties that have resulted from Iran&#39;s and regional resistance movements&#39; daring retaliatory strikes in the face of Tel Aviv&#39;s unprovoked aggression.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Additionally, the Zionist regime&#39;s prime minister has been grappling with a corruption scandal featuring bribery, fraud, and breach of trust for years, which has prompted his key ally and supporter, US President Donald Trump, to try to intervene to secure him a pardon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","content_source":"","content_url":"","content_date_start":"2026-04-27 10:22:09","content_date_event":"2026-04-27 10:22:09","content_date_event_start":null,"content_date_event_end":null,"content_show_title_slider":1,"content_date_last_edit":"2026-04-27 10:24:33","content_date_register":"2026-04-27 10:24:33","content_columns":0,"content_show_img":1,"content_show_details":0,"content_show_related_img":0,"content_show_slider":1,"content_comment":1,"content_score":0,"tag_id":0,"score_average":null,"score_count":null,"score_date_last":null,"uid":43,"eid":0,"attach_title":"Zionist regime","attaches":[{"sizes":{"150":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202604\/569344_3139833886_150_84.webp","300":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202604\/569344_3139833886_300_168.webp","400":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202604\/569344_3139833886_400_224.webp","600":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202604\/569344_3139833886_600_337.webp","900":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202604\/569344_3139833886_900_505.webp","1200":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202604\/569344_3139833886_1000_561.jpg"},"ext":"jpg","file_media":1,"token":3139833886,"files":{"original":{"url":".\/file\/2\/attach\/202604\/569344_3139833886.jpg","width":1000,"height":561,"size":0}}}]}]]