In Israel, 2 main rivals join forces to challenge Netanyahu

JERUSALEM — The two main challengers to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined forces Thursday in a united front ahead of April elections, a dramatic move that upended the campaign and suddenly created the most serious threat to the Israeli leader’s decade-long grip on power.

Retired military chief Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party, appeared together on live TV late Thursday to announce their partnership, saying they were putting aside their personal rivalry in a shared goal to oust Netanyahu.

Opinion polls on Israeli TV stations showed the new “blue and white” alliance jumping ahead of Netanyahu’s Likud Party. Netanyahu, taking to the airwaves later Thursday, dismissed his challengers as “leftists” who will destroy the country.

Netanyahu is pursuing a fourth consecutive term.

But Gantz, a popular political newcomer, has emerged as a potent challenger. Both he and Lapid hold similar views on a host of issues popular with centrist Israeli voters, ranging from the economy to the Palestinian issue.

Gantz has the added attraction of being a former military chief, a key credential with the security-obsessed electorate.

The two leaders reached their agreement after concluding that joining their two parties together would win more votes than if they ran separately.

Under their arrangement, the two agreed to a rotation leadership should they come to power. Gantz would first serve as prime minister and would then be replaced by Lapid after two-and-a-half years.