Yesh Atid Unveils Knesset List After Alliance with Naftali Bennett

Yesh Atid party chairman Yair Lapid revealed the party's slate for the upcoming Knesset elections, which will feature an alliance with Naftali Bennett's faction under the banner "B'Yachad" (Together). The move comes amid a wave of departures from veteran lawmakers within Yesh Atid. The party emphasized a focus on renewal and promoting younger leaders, with key positions on the list awarded to those who distinguished themselves in Knesset committees during the past term.

In the unified list's top ten, Bennett and Lapid will be followed by a Bennett representative, then Merav Ben Ari, who received the highest placement after Lapid. Additional Bennett representatives will fill other spots, with Noam Tibon at sixth, followed by more Bennett nominees, and then Merav Cohen at ninth, with two more Bennett representatives rounding out the top ten. Lapid's faction secured 40% of the representation compared to Bennett's, with Lapid receiving four spots in the top ten and a similar number in the second ten.

The party has experienced significant internal upheaval, with several founding members and prominent parliamentarians, including Vladimir Beliak and Naor Shiri, announcing their departures. Lapid addressed party activists, stating that the recent period demonstrated strength and resilience, enabling them to build a better future and secure a leadership role in the country. Despite Yesh Atid's historical strength, recent polls predict a significant drop in their seat count, potentially to five or six, prompting the merger with Bennett.

Several prominent figures have left the party, including Orna Barbivai, who is running for Tel Aviv mayor, and former minister Yoel Razvozov, who is pursuing business ventures. Boaz Toporovsky, a party founder, announced his retirement from politics earlier, while Meir Cohen and Mickey Levy, close associates of Lapid, made way for younger candidates. Other departures include Elazar Stern, who joined Benny Gantz's faction, and Ron Katz, who left for civilian life. Idan Roll departed in January 2025 to form his own faction and later left politics. Yoav Segalovitz joined Mansour Abbas's party, and MKs Tatiana Mazursky and Debi Biton announced they would not be on the list but remain within the party. Former minister Karin Elharrar also joined the list.

Bennett added 16 new candidates to the list, some of whom are slated for top positions. The merger has created a surplus of candidates, necessitating a vetting process. Some departing members, like Cohen and Levy, will receive symbolic party roles to signify a smooth separation.