Story perspectives

Sharabi Joins Beytenu; Merger Threatens Bennett-Lapid, Early Election Looms

5/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

Sharon Sharabi, brother of two October 7 hostages, joined Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu party as merger talks with Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party begin.
Polls show Yashar at about 15 seats and Yisrael Beytenu at 10 seats, a combined total that could rival the 26-seat Together slate of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is weighing an election date as early as September 1 instead of the expected late-October schedule.

History

Historical Context

Founded on 13 September 1973, Likud’s 1977 breakthrough—winning 43 Knesset seats and ending Labor’s three-decade rule under Menachem Begin—showed the power of right-wing-religious coalitions. Recent moves toward Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu and a pending merger with another right-wing bloc echo that 1977 strategy, threatening Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc ahead of the September election in Israel's political arena.

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Story summary

Sharon Sharabi, brother of two October 7 hostages, joined Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu party as merger talks with Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party begin.
Polls show Yashar at about 15 seats and Yisrael Beytenu at 10 seats, a combined total that could rival the 26-seat Together slate of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is weighing an election date as early as September 1 instead of the expected late-October schedule.

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