Poll slump deepens tensions between Bennett and Lapid

Reports of a serious rift are growing between Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid after a sharp drop in their polling numbers, with leadership tensions also involving Gadi Eisenkot and broader public distrust. Lapid tried to dismiss the rumors on X as part of a "machine of poison," but the article says the public signs point to a partnership that has lost direction and is focused mainly on bringing down Benjamin Netanyahu.

The piece says that since their alliance formed about a month and a half ago, their political strength has fallen quickly. According to Channel 14 polls, the bloc slipped from 18 seats in the week of the union to 13 seats by Thursday night, which the article describes as a free fall in political terms.

The article says Bennett has recently checked whether he should dissolve the partnership with Lapid. It also reports that Bennett was asked twice about the issue during a press conference yesterday, which apparently angered Lapid, prompting his public denial this morning. The denial followed a report by a Channel 13 political correspondent that Bennett had explored ending the alliance.

The story says Bennett is now being overtaken by Eisenkot in the polls, and that the opposition bloc is in turmoil. Bennett was asked yesterday whether he would allow Eisenkot to lead the bloc, and his answer is described as even more confusing. The article concludes that Bennett is trying to project stability while the public sees falling support, leadership struggles, and a lack of clarity, arguing that a campaign based on "only not Netanyahu" may unite rivals but cannot necessarily keep them together.