Bennett and Lapid Unveil Joint Knesset List

The "Together" list, a joint venture between former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's party and Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid, has finalized its Knesset slate. The list, revealed less than a day after Lapid presented his party's core candidates, features a significant female presence, with women comprising 50% of the top ten positions. The final arrangement followed weeks of intense negotiations and disputes over candidate placements.

Key positions on the list are led by Bennett at number one and Lapid at number two. Other prominent figures include former government ministry directors-general Keren Turner and Liran Avishar Ben-Hurin. The agreement allocates approximately 40% of the list's slots to Yesh Atid members, with Lapid securing four spots in the top ten and five in the second ten. The list also includes former Yesh Atid Knesset members Ram Ben Barak, Naor Shiri, and Vladimir Belyak.

A notable point of contention involved Bennett's unsuccessful attempt to recruit Knesset Member Chili Tropper, who ultimately chose to join Gadi Eisenkot instead. This decision influenced the final allocation of spots between Bennett's and Lapid's factions.

The formation of the joint list has coincided with a wave of departures from Yesh Atid, as several veteran lawmakers, including Meir Cohen, Mickey Levy, and Karin Elharrar, announced they would not seek re-election. Lapid has framed these changes as a necessary generational shift within his party, emphasizing the experience and capabilities of the new candidates.