Israel opposition leaders campaign for unity ahead of Knesset election

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid are campaigning for their merged political slate ahead of the upcoming Knesset election. The B’Yachad party, which combines Bennett’s faction with Lapid’s Yesh Atid, is positioning itself as a provider of unity and professional leadership to replace what they describe as years of chaos.

The party platform includes several key proposals: the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023, attacks, an eight-year term limit for prime ministers, and a universal conscription law.

During the campaign, Lapid has criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that Netanyahu’s policies could lead to international sanctions and a cutoff of U.S. military aid. Lapid argued that only a reform-minded government can ensure economic stability and maintain essential foreign relations. Additionally, opposition members have criticized Netanyahu’s approach to the cryptocurrency industry, suggesting his policies have pushed the sector out of Israel.