Bennett and Lapid Unveil BYachad Party Slate Ahead of 2026 Election
On a Sunday that could reshape Israel’s political landscape, former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid announced the full candidate list for their joint alliance, B’Yachad (“Together”), ahead of the October 27 vote for the 120‑seat Knesset.
The list, posted by Bennett on X, blends seasoned politicians, civil servants, military veterans, business leaders and activists. Polls released after the announcement project B’Yachad winning between 12 and 15 seats, placing it behind the newly formed Yashar party led by former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot, which is expected to secure more than 20 seats.
B’Yachad emerged in April 2026 when Bennett’s Bennett 2026 merged with Yesh Atid, the centrist party founded by Lapid. The merger was formalized under the name “Together” and is meant to consolidate the opposition’s reform bloc. Bennett will head the list, a decision that follows the rotation agreement he entered into with Lapid in 2021, when the two former prime ministers shared the premiership for two years.
Under the agreement, Yesh Atid will receive 40 % of the positions on the list. The deal triggered a wave of resignations among Yesh Atid members of the Knesset who realized that their chances of re‑entering the legislature would be slim. Karine Elharrar, Meir Cohen, Mickey Levy, Michal Shir and Yoav Segalovitz all stepped down. Segalovitz has since announced that he will join the United Arab List, known by its Hebrew acronym Ra’am.
Bennett’s slate includes 17 women, giving the party a female majority among its candidates. The top ten names, in order, are: 1. Naftali Bennett 2. Yair Lapid 3. Keren Turner 4. Merav Ben‑Ari 5. Liran Avisar Ben‑Horin 6. Noam Tibon 7. Michal Hirsch Negrin 8. Eitan Ginzburg 9. Merav Cohen 10. Yonatan Shalev
The list also features former Knesset members and public officials such as Merav Ben‑Ari, a former minister of finance, and Eitan Ginzburg, a former head of the Israeli National Security Council. The inclusion of military veterans and business executives reflects Bennett’s emphasis on security and economic reform.
In the weeks following the list release, opinion polls from several independent research firms have projected B’Yachad’s seat share at 12–15 seats, depending on voter turnout and the performance of smaller parties. The Yashar party, founded by Eisenkot in September 2025, is expected to outperform Likud, the party of incumbent prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the same polls. Analysts note that the rise of Yashar could split the right‑wing vote, potentially benefiting B’Yachad and other opposition groups.
B’Yachad’s campaign promises to recruit ultra‑Orthodox voters, reduce crime, restore street security, lower living costs, improve public transportation, rehabilitate the education system, and raise Israel’s international standing. These pledges echo the platform of the 2021 “Government of Change” coalition that brought Bennett and Lapid to power and ended Netanyahu’s 12‑year tenure.
The October 27 election will be the first national vote after the 2025 parliamentary term and will determine whether the new opposition alliance can challenge Netanyahu’s Likud‑led government. The Central Elections Committee will receive the final list of candidates by September 9, the deadline set for all parties.
As the campaign season begins, B’Yachad’s leadership will need to navigate the internal dynamics of a coalition that blends former rivals and address the concerns of voters who are wary of political fragmentation. The outcome of the election will shape Israel’s policy direction on security, economy, and social issues for the next four years.
