No. 16: Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid: Leading Israel's opposition

Both Gantz and Lapid have voiced that they would provide Netanyahu with a “safety-net” for a hostage deal, offering political backing without preconditions. Yet, the two also have opposing opinions and ways of conducting themselves, each leading their respective parties and polling differently.

In August, Gantz attempted to form what he termed a “temporary hostage redemption government.” He called on Netanyahu, Lapid, and Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman to join forces with him for six months to focus on releasing the hostages and passing the controversial haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft law.

However, the proposal fell flat, as Gantz garnered no support from any of the three. Instead, he faced much criticism for the offer.

Lapid questioned why Gantz would want to be "deceived" for a third time after having entered into two unity governments under Netanyahu in the past. Liberman said the proposal was a spin to “save Gantz,” rather than the hostages.

Gantz’s party was hit with significant blows this past year as various members left his faction. Among those who resigned was former MK Gadi Eisenkot, the party’s number two, who is now set to run in the next elections separately, becoming a key competitor of Gantz.

There have been talks to create shared “guidelines” between opposition parties ahead of the next elections, with members of what has been termed the “Change Bloc.” Those within the bloc include Lapid, Gantz, Eisenkot, and Liberman – along with former prime minister Naftali Bennett and the Democrats Party head Yair Golan.

However, Lapid has firmly expressed that only his Yesh Atid party would be able to take the various parties and bring them together to form a government that would defeat Netanyahu.

“Apart from Yesh Atid, there is no one who knows how to do this,” Lapid said, during a September party conference.

Speaking about the Yesh Atid Party, which he founded in 2012 when he first entered the political sphere, Lapid said at the conference, “We know how to build great things here and form a functioning, efficient government that will work for the citizens. Above all, we know what kind of country we want for our children.”

Lapid called a Netanyahu election win “the end of Zionism,” adding that “the state would collapse” and that “we are the only ones who can save it.”

“If we do not save the state now, then in two years, there will be nothing left to save,” Lapid stressed at the conference.

As the stakes remain high and the dynamics in Israel’s political sphere shift rapidly, Lapid and Gantz hold key roles in influencing the next elections, as well as the country’s future.