Bennett weighs ending alliance with Lapid amid poll slide and internal rifts

In recent days, Yamina chairman Naftali Bennett has examined whether to dissolve his political alliance with Yair Lapid and run independently again, according to a first report. The move is being considered because of falling poll numbers and disagreements inside the partnership. At this stage, the chances of an actual split remain unclear.

People in Bennett’s circle have argued that Lapid has driven away right-wing voters who backed Bennett. They also say recent appointee Lior Horev, the campaign strategist, has struggled to pull the party out of its crisis. Party sources said there have been serious confrontations among campaign leaders, and that Bennett may soon need to make decisions.

The report follows last week’s Channel 13 revelation that senior figures in Bennett’s camp spoke harshly about Lapid and even called him a “terror attack.” The two leaders had only held the first rally for their new party a little more than a month ago.

At that rally, Bennett delivered a sweeping attack on the government, saying, “The deserters’ alliance is collapsing.” He accused the Likud of becoming “an executive arm of Deri and Goldknopf,” warned that an alliance based on harming IDF soldiers would fall apart, and said early Knesset dissolution would be the only good thing this government had done. He added that Israel needed “a new beginning” and “a historic turnaround,” compared the current moment to the aftermath of 1973, and said the government had weakened the army and not awakened since October 7. Bennett also said many Likud voters were joining his camp because the party had become “an empty shell,” and that Benjamin Netanyahu was “in hysteria” over the hope Bennett says is emerging.