Yesh Atid MK: Gantz and Lapid in unity talks, decision within 2 Weeks

Political juggernaut Benny Gantz may unite with Yair Lapid to battle Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party in the upcoming Israeli elections.

By Benjamin Kerstein, The Algemeiner

In what could lead to a dramatic change in the Israeli electoral landscape, Israel Resilience party head Benny Gantz and Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid are in talks to run together on a unified list in the upcoming elections.

According to Israeli news site Mako, Yesh Atid MK Ofer Shelach said at a cultural event on Saturday that “talks are taking place between Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz,” and the results will be announced within two weeks.

“Unification must be based on agreed-upon lines,” Shelach added. “We have to take a sober look at the picture.”

However, Shelach also said that Yesh Atid “is the one that must lead those who seek to replace the regime.”

Polls taken after Gantz’s well-received debut speech as a candidate showed that the only party capable of defeating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be a Gantz-Lapid unity list.

A poll by Israeli news site Walla showed such a party winning 33 seats as opposed to Likud’s 27. Another survey by news outlet Hadashot showed Gantz and Lapid receiving 35 seats and the Likud 30.

Elections will be held on April 9.

Benny GantzIsraeli elections 2019NetanyahuYair Lapid