On Saturday, September 26, 2026, five opposition figures – Yair Lapid, Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman and Yair Golan – signed a joint principles document at Lapid's residence in Tel Aviv, signalling a coordinated effort to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the October 27 Knesset election.
Although the signatories acknowledge stark ideological gaps, they agreed that the primary goal is to form a new government centred on “repair and rebuilding”. The pact explicitly forbids any party or its representatives from attacking another bloc member or its leader until a fresh cabinet takes office.
Within 48 hours, three joint working groups must be created. The first group will handle voter mobilisation, election‑day logistics and safeguards for vote integrity. The second will draft basic guidelines for a prospective administration, covering equal sharing of service duties, a state commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023 events, prime‑minister term limits, a constitution and a 100‑day action plan. The third group is tasked with coordinating communications, countering fake news and managing smear campaigns.
The coalition has postponed the selection of a common prime‑minister candidate. Disagreements, especially among Eisenkot, Bennett and Lieberman, have kept the leadership question open, leaving it for post‑election negotiations.
Benny Gantz' Blue and White party did not attend the signing, remaining outside the newly formed bloc.
Prime Minister Netanyahu reacted on X, condemning the agreement and suggesting that Eisenkot intends to join forces with other opposition parties and Arab groups. He also posted an AI‑altered version of the group photograph that inserted United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas and Hadash‑Ta’al leader Ahmad Tibi, neither of whom were present.
The nation will vote for all 120 Knesset seats on October 27, a result that will determine the composition of the next parliament and the parties eligible to form the government.
Image: siasat.com
📰 Source: Siasat Gulf