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Yair Lapid

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen at a ceremony at Mount Herzl, for the Ethiopian Jews who died while making their way to Israel. May 14, 2026. (Gil Yohanan/POOL)
Netanyahu said seeking to dissuade Haredi parties from backing September elections date
By Stav Levaton, Rossella Tercatin and Sam Sokol
PM reportedly cites need to focus on Iran war; government said to be planning 5-year program to support ultra-Orthodox community; poll again predicts inconclusive elections
Participants in the annual Pride March walk in a procession to the Knesset in Jerusalem, one holding a sign that reads, "All preferences are good except for the preference for fascism," on June 4, 2026. (Charlie Summers/Times of Israel)
June 5, 2026, 3:19 am
‘Part of a larger struggle’: As elections loom, thousands march to Knesset for Jerusalem Pride
Marchers chant ‘democracy’ while holding ballot boxes, in procession guarded by some 2,000 police officers; partner of soldier killed fighting on Oct. 7 says Israel facing ‘fateful’ vote
By Charlie Summers
Left to right: Former prime minister Naftali Bennett speaks during a press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, May 20, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Opposition Leader Yesh Atid MK Yair Lapid leads a faction meeting at the Knesset on May 25, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, speaks during a conference at Tel Aviv University, May 12, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90); Leader of the Democrats party Yair Golan leads a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Yisrael Beytenu chair Avigdor Liberman leads a faction meeting at the Knesset on May 25, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 5, 2026, 1:17 am
Poll shows anti-Netanyahu bloc winning majority; Eisenkot seen as best fit to be PM in separate survey
Zman Yisrael has Zionist opposition parties winning 62 seats, enough to form a government, though they would come short of a majority if all Arab factions run on joint slate
By ToI Staff
Yesh Atid MK Boaz Toporovsky attends a Law and Constitution Committee meeting in the Knesset, on June 26, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90/File)
May 27, 2026, 9:11 pm
Yesh Atid co-founder and MK Boaz Toporovsky steps away from Knesset
Toporovsky to remain in party, but not in political role; Lapid thanks ‘friend’ for ‘years of service’ to public; former Zionist Council chief Oz Haim named as replacement MK
By Ariela Karmel and ToI Staff
Left to right: Former prime minister Naftali Bennett speaks during a press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, May 20, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Opposition Leader Yesh Atid MK Yair Lapid leads a faction meeting at the Knesset on May 25, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, speaks during a conference at Tel Aviv University, May 12, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90); Leader of the Democrats party Yair Golan leads a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Yisrael Beytenu chair Avigdor Liberman leads a faction meeting at the Knesset on May 25, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 27, 2026, 5:16 pm
Opposition party leaders spar over potential inclusion of Haredim in future coalition
Democrats’ Golan slammed after undated clip showed him saying he would sit with ultra-Orthodox if it was the only way to oust Netanyahu-led Likud and far-right; Lapid and Bennett vow no compromise on draft exemptions
By Sam Sokol
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid addresses his Yesh Atid party's weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, May 25, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 25, 2026, 6:22 pm
Lapid takes aim at ‘disaster’ US-Iran deal, says Netanyahu failed to achieve victory
Opposition leader says it’s ‘absurd’ negotiations to end conflict did not include Israel, which must ‘maintain freedom of action’ regardless of agreement
By Sam Sokol
Yisrael Beytenu party chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman leads a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on May 18, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
May 19, 2026, 7:31 pm
Liberman says his goal for the upcoming election is to become prime minister
Hawkish MK’s Yisrael Beytenu party polls at only around 9 seats; however, he rules out threatening to join Netanyahu for leverage
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Ultra-Orthodox men block a road and clash with police during a protest against the jailing of a yeshiva students who failed to comply with an army recruitment order, at the entrance to Jerusalem, February 16, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
May 18, 2026, 6:31 pm
Rebuked by court and military, police say they will detain draft evaders
Shas blasts arrests of ‘precious Torah scholars’; Smotrich demands Haredi leaders endorse military service for those not engaged in full-time Torah study
By Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen at a ceremony at Mount Herzl, for the Ethiopian Jews who died while making their way to Israel. May 14, 2026. (Gil Yohanan/POOL)
May 15, 2026, 1:43 am
Netanyahu said seeking to dissuade Haredi parties from backing September elections date
PM reportedly cites need to focus on Iran war; government said to be planning 5-year program to support ultra-Orthodox community; poll again predicts inconclusive elections
By Stav Levaton, Rossella Tercatin and Sam Sokol
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, left, and former prime minister Naftali Bennett embrace during a rally of their joint party Together in Tel Aviv on May 12, 2026. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
May 13, 2026, 1:52 am
At new party’s first rally, Bennett vows to ‘unite the nation’ and enact constitution
Former premier says Likud founders ‘rolling in their graves’ at what party has become under Netanyahu; Lapid: Merger with Bennett is about ‘restoring hope to the country’
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Mordechai David and other right-wing provocateurs harrass Naor Narkis and his partner (both in blue) at the Cinemateque in Tel Aviv on May 9, 2026 (Screenshots via X/Ofri Eitan)
May 11, 2026, 10:35 am
Far-right provocateurs hurl homophobic abuse at gay secularist activist in Tel Aviv
Group led by government-aligned Mordechai David trails Naor Narkis and partner, calling them ‘f*ggot’ and ‘tranny’; gang also said to yell the pair is ‘sick with AIDS’
By Noam Lehmann and ToI Staff
L-R: Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot seen during a visit to Kibbutz Yiftah near the Israeli border with Lebanon, March 9, 2026. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90); opposition leader and head of the Yesh Atid party MK Yair Lapid in the Knesset, March 30, 2026. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90); former prime minister Naftali Bennett attends a funeral at the Military Cemetery in Beit She'an on April 9, 2026. (Michael Giladi/Flash90)
May 10, 2026, 4:55 pm
Eisenkot says Bennett-Lapid uniting without him is ‘not how you build partnerships’
Yashar chairman tells party activists he wanted to join merger, condensing Zionist opposition into three separate slates representing left, right and center
By Sam Sokol
Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar at the opening of the Israeli Cartoon Museum in the city of Holon, February 10, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
May 10, 2026, 1:04 pm
Likud minister claims Hamas ‘hatched’ Oct. 7 attack during Bennett-Lapid government
Zohar says Sinwar planned onslaught when he saw ‘weakness’; Bennett accuses government of campaign to ‘evade responsibility,’ promises state inquiry; Lapid: Government should be ‘ashamed’
By Ariela Karmel and ToI Staff
MKs Avigdor Liberman (front right) and Gadi Eisenkot (bottom left) in the Knesset, September 9, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 8, 2026, 11:28 am
Eisenkot-Liberman merger would be biggest faction, could boost opposition – survey
Polls essentially unchanged since last week, with Zman showing Zionist opposition with narrow majority; Reservists’ Hendel reportedly in touch with Gantz about joint run
By ToI Staff and Tal Schneider
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, left, and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid announcing their joint run in the coming elections, in Herzliya, central Israel, April 26, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
May 8, 2026, 4:59 am
Star-crossed bromance? Bennett and Lapid aim to unify Israel, but electoral heavens may not align
Bennett is distrusted by many, while Lapid is seen as left-wing. Their bond, apparently genuine, may not be enough to heal the country’s rifts or unseat Netanyahu
By Ben Sales
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett is interviewed on Channel 12, on April 29, 2026. (Channel 12 screenshot)
April 30, 2026, 1:48 am
In interview blitz, Bennett vows to fire politicized officials if elected PM
Former premier says he’s seen ‘crazy things’ in ‘political’ Israel Police; urges Eisenkot to ‘display leadership’ and join his union with Lapid; warns Haredi draft evasion ‘killing our soldiers’
By Charlie Summers and ToI Staff
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