The newly announced merger between former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid marks the clearest attempt yet to consolidate the opposition bloc ahead of the next election, reviving the political partnership that succeeded in toppling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2021 when they led a short-lived diverse coalition of right-wing, centrist and left-wing parties. While the merger reflects familiar strategic calculations — including pooling resources, maximizing seats and projecting unity — its real significance lies in the unresolved questions it raises: whether the alliance can meaningfully shift the balance of power, how former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot’s decision to join or run alone could reshape the race, and whether a potential breakaway “Likud B” faction on the right might ultimately determine who forms the next government. Prof.…