Can Naftali Bennett defeat Netanyahu? Inside the Israeli opposition’s big gamble

The Haaretz Podcast explores the dramatic political shift in Israel as former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid announce a merger of their parties into a new coalition called 'Together, Yachad' ahead of the upcoming election. This strategic alliance, aimed at unseating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marks a pivotal moment in Israeli politics, especially given Netanyahu's weakened standing after October 7th and years of war. Dr. Dalia Shenlin, a veteran political analyst, dissects the move's viability, noting that while the merger is not entirely surprising given the two leaders' long-standing relationship, it raises critical questions about Bennett’s ideological consistency and the feasibility of uniting the center-right without alienating key voter blocs. She argues that the opposition’s success hinges not just on electoral math but on confronting Israel’s deeper democratic crisis—particularly the incompatibility between liberal democracy and the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories. Despite polls suggesting the opposition coalition may not gain enough seats without Arab parties, Shenlin warns that the real existential threat lies not from external enemies but from within: Israel’s transformation into an undemocratic, expansionist state that undermines its own foundational values. The episode underscores a broader existential reckoning: whether Israel can reclaim its democratic identity before it becomes permanently entrenched in authoritarianism. Shenlin challenges the narrative of perpetual external threat, urging Israelis to confront the internal erosion of democracy and the moral contradictions of permanent occupation. While the merger offers hope for unity, it also exposes deep ideological fractures. The podcast concludes with a sobering reflection: every election has felt fateful, but this one may be the last chance to reverse course before irreversible change sets in. The outcome will determine not just who leads Israel, but what kind of state it becomes.