Israel’s opposition leaders Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid are betting that a leadership change can reverse Israel’s steep decline in global favor. The two former prime ministers, from rival parties but united in their opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are leading a campaign to replace him in elections that must be held by October 31. Their pitch to voters isn’t just about ending Netanyahu’s rule—it’s about fixing Israel’s battered reputation abroad. But their ability to do that hinges on a big gamble: they’ll keep the same policies toward Palestinians that led to Israel’s isolation in the first place.\n\nBennett, a far-right politician, launched his campaign in April with a promise to bring an “era of correction.” He argued the country needed “professionals” who “think only of the good of Israel” to lead, rather than Netanyahu’s divisive approach. Lapid, his centrist rival-turned-ally, has been more measured in public but shares Bennett’s view that Netanyahu’s leadership has made Israel a pariah. The problem? Neither has signaled any intention to dial back Israel’s military actions in Gaza or the West Bank.\n\n## Why Israel’s isolation keeps growing\nIsrael’s global standing has plummeted since October 7, when Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 240 hostages. The Israeli military’s response in Gaza—where Gaza Health Ministry officials say more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed—has drawn international outrage. The International Court of Justice is weighing whether Israel is committing genocide. South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide at the court has won support from 161 of the UN’s 193 member states. Even Israel’s closest allies in Europe are questioning its actions.\n\nBennett and Lapid both supported Israel’s wars in Gaza and elsewhere. Bennett, who briefly served as prime minister in 2021–2022, was a key figure in the 2014 and 2021 conflicts with Hamas. Lapid, who took over after Bennett and served as interim prime minister, continued military operations in Gaza during his tenure. Their past actions suggest they won’t push for a ceasefire or major policy shifts if they win.\n\n## What’s really changing under Bennett and Lapid\nThe opposition leaders are focusing their criticism on Netanyahu’s personal failures rather than his policies. They argue his corruption trials, erratic diplomacy, and refusal to compromise on judicial reforms have hurt Israel’s image. Bennett has even accused Netanyahu of “sabotaging” Israel’s international relationships. But when it comes to security and the Palestinians, their positions align closely with Netanyahu’s hardline stance.\n\nLapid, for example, has repeatedly called for Israel to maintain full control over the West Bank. Bennett has pushed for expanding Jewish settlements there, which most of the world considers illegal under international law. Neither has offered a plan to address Palestinian demands for statehood or an end to occupation. Their shared view is that Israel’s security comes first, even if it means continued international backlash.\n\n## Can they really fix Israel’s reputation?\nThe odds aren’t in their favor. Israel’s isolation isn’t just about Netanyahu’s leadership style—it’s about the policies that have defined Israel’s approach to Palestinians for decades. The International Criminal Court is considering arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Countries like Spain, Ireland, and Norway have recognized a Palestinian state in recent weeks, a move that would have been unthinkable even a year ago. Even the U.S., Israel’s strongest ally, has grown more critical of its military conduct.\n\nBennett and Lapid’s best hope is that a change in leadership alone could soften some of that criticism. They’re banking on the idea that foreign governments will give them a chance to prove Israel can be a responsible actor. But if they keep the same playbook, they might just prove Netanyahu right: Israel’s problems run deeper than who’s in charge.\n\nWhat happens next depends on whether voters buy their argument. If they win, the world will watch closely to see if Israel’s policies change—or if Bennett and Lapid’s promises of a “correction” amount to little more than a new face for the same old approach.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Al Jazeera
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 07:20 UTC
  • Category: War
  • Topics: #conflict · #war · #aljazeera · #could · #israel · #opposition

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O mundo acompanha com atenção a inédita aliança entre Naftali Bennett e Yair Lapid, dois líderes da oposição israelense, que prometem romper com anos de isolamento internacional de Israel ao formar um novo governo. Com propostas que misturam pragmatismo diplomático e alianças improváveis, a dupla enfrenta o desafio de reconquistar a confiança global, especialmente entre aliados históricos como os Estados Unidos e a União Europeia, sem ceder em questões sensíveis como a ocupação de territórios palestinos.

No Brasil, onde a política externa costuma ser pautada por equilíbrio e multilateralismo, a possível virada de Israel desperta interesse não só por seu impacto no Oriente Médio, mas também por suas repercussões em países com grande população de origem árabe ou judaica, como o próprio Brasil. A chegada de Bennett e Lapid ao poder poderia sinalizar uma abordagem menos belicosa em relação aos palestinos, ainda que suas posições permaneçam firmes na defesa da segurança israelense. Para o governo brasileiro, que recentemente reafirmou seu apoio à solução de dois Estados, a dinâmica em Israel pode influenciar a estratégia diplomática na região, especialmente em um momento de tensão crescente com o Irã.

Se a estratégia der certo, Israel poderá reduzir sua dependência de Washington e abrir caminho para uma imagem menos beligerante no cenário global; caso contrário, a sombra da ocupação continuará a manchar sua reputação internacional.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

La oposición israelí apuesta por Bennett y Lapid para revertir el aislamiento internacional de Israel, aunque sus propuestas mantienen las mismas líneas rojas en el conflicto palestino. Tras años de gobiernos dominados por la línea dura de Netanyahu, la posible alianza entre la derecha nacionalista de Bennett y el centrista Lapid busca presentar una imagen más moderada al exterior, sin alterar sustancialmente el statu quo con los palestinos.

El contexto es clave: la comunidad internacional ha mostrado creciente impaciencia con la ocupación y los asentamientos, mientras que dentro de Israel crece el malestar por la polarización política. Para los lectores hispanohablantes, el desafío de este gobierno alternativo radicará en demostrar si es posible combinar una política exterior menos confrontativa con la inamovible postura en materia de seguridad y territorio, un equilibrio que hasta ahora ha resultado esquivo. La región, y en particular los países de habla hispana con posiciones históricas en el conflicto, observarán con atención si este cambio de rumbo logra consolidarse.