New Bennett-Lapid party weakens compared to separate runs, Netanyahu maintains lead - poll

The much-hyped launch of the 'Together' party by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid appears to have fallen flat, according to a new poll. Instead of galvanizing the opposition and creating a formidable bloc against Benjamin Netanyahu, the merger has resulted in a net loss of seats compared to their parties' previous independent showings. This underperformance is a significant blow to the architects of the alliance, who clearly hoped to present a united front capable of unseating the current government.

The poll's findings are stark: 'Together' would secure 27 seats, a considerable drop from the combined 31 seats Bennett's and Lapid's parties garnered in earlier surveys. This suggests that the synergy they anticipated has not materialized, and perhaps the appeal of the individual leaders or their distinct platforms has been diluted by the merger. The anti-Netanyahu bloc, which had previously held a slim majority in some polls, now finds itself at 59 seats, just short of the 61 needed to form a government.

Meanwhile, Likud, under Netanyahu's leadership, appears to be benefiting from this fragmentation, gaining four seats to reach 28 and solidifying its position as the largest party. The current coalition also sees a slight increase, reaching 51 seats. This electoral landscape, as reflected in the poll, suggests that the path to forming a government remains complex and contested. The failure of the Bennett-Lapid merger to significantly alter the balance of power highlights the challenges facing the opposition and the resilience of Netanyahu's political base. It remains to be seen if further alliances or strategic shifts can change this trajectory before the next election.