Yair Lapid Details Night Call That Sparked Political Alliance With Naftali Bennett

Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition in Israel, broke a seven-month media silence in a televised interview on July 4, 2026, revealing how a late-night phone call with Naftali Bennett led to their political union. Lapid described the alliance as a strategic move to form a new "national camp" aimed at replacing the current government. He emphasized that in this election cycle, he is fully backing Bennett as the prime minister candidate, stating Bennett is "the right man at the right time," and acknowledged stepping aside from his own ambitions.

Lapid addressed past tensions and accusations, including comments attributed to Bennett calling him "toxic" to right-wing voters, dismissing them as irrelevant to their current cooperation. He also discussed the strained relationship with Gadi Eizenkot, noting they communicate less but that Bennett maintains extensive dialogue with Eizenkot, and that a broader alliance including Eizenkot remains possible.

The opposition leader outlined his vision for a "national camp" that transcends traditional right-left divisions, focusing on integrating ultra-Orthodox Jews into the workforce and military without relying on Arab parties for support. He criticized the current political climate as "toxic and violent" and expressed a desire to restore constructive political discourse. Lapid also defended the previous "change government" he led, highlighting its integrity and work ethic despite its eventual collapse.

On security matters, Lapid called for a more aggressive stance against Iran, advocating for bombing Iranian energy and oil facilities to cripple its economy. Regarding the maritime agreement with Lebanon, he supported the deal but criticized the lack of coordination with policies toward Iran. Lapid reaffirmed his commitment to forming a stable government with a broad coalition, aiming for 64-65 Knesset seats, and expressed confidence in their path toward victory in the September elections.