Leaders of 5 Parties Unite Efforts in Elections to Replace Netanyahu's Government

It followed that the meeting was attended by the heads of the 'There is a Future' party, Yair Lapid, 'Yesh Atid' Gadi Eizenkot, 'Together' Naftali Bennett, 'Israel Our Home' Avigdor Lieberman, and 'Democrats' Yair Golan.

The meeting came as part of coordinating the parties' movements, trying to attract votes to the opposition bloc, and enhancing its ability to achieve a majority that would allow it to form the next government instead of Netanyahu's government.

Following the meeting, the leaders published a joint photo and a document of principles outlining the coordination mechanisms between them until the elections and beyond, according to the same source.

According to the document, the party leaders pledged to work, each within their scope, to increase the voting percentage and attract voters from various segments of society, aiming to achieve a majority in the elections and form a new government.

They also agreed that 'from today until the formation of the government, none of us, or anyone on our behalf, will attack a partner party in the bloc or its leader,' and they pledged to work together immediately after the elections to form the next government.

The document also provides for the formation of 3 joint working groups within 48 hours, with the first tasked with raising the voting percentage for the bloc, preparing for election day, and what they described as 'maintaining the integrity of the elections'.

The second group will draft the main lines of the government that the opposition seeks to form instead of Netanyahu's government, including 'equality in bearing burdens,' the formation of a formal investigation committee into the events of October 7, 2023, determining the term of the prime minister, drafting a constitution, and preparing a plan for the first 100 days of the government's work.

The third group will coordinate media between the parties and work together to counter what the document described as 'false news and defamation campaigns'.

The meeting came after disagreements emerged between the leaders of the opposition parties, particularly Eizenkot, Bennett, and Lieberman, over the mechanism for selecting an agreed-upon candidate for prime minister.

Eizenkot had criticized Bennett and Lieberman for not announcing clear rules for selecting an agreed-upon candidate from the bloc for prime minister, considering that it harms the camp's chances in the elections.

In contrast, Lieberman called for focusing on achieving a common result for the bloc instead of being preoccupied with determining who will be the first or second candidate for prime minister.

Israeli general elections are scheduled for October 27, while recent opinion polls show Netanyahu's camp declining against the opposition camp.

Netanyahu has been heading the current government since late December 2022, which is described as the most right-wing in Israel's history.

Netanyahu faces corruption charges, and the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for him on charges of committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip.