Two of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's most formidable political rivals said on Sunday they were joining forces in a bid to oust his coalition government in the upcoming election expected later this year. The former prime ministers — right-wing Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid — issued statements announcing the merger of their parties, Bennett 2026 and There is a Future. "We are standing here together for the sake of our children. The State of Israel must change direction,"