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Five Israeli opposition leaders signed a joint pact Saturday to coordinate their campaigns and replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, but agreed to decide on their candidate for prime minister only after the Oct. 27 election.
The leaders pledged not to attack one another until a new government is formed.
Netanyahu responded by posting an AI-altered image of the group that added two Arab party leaders.
The opposition has three contenders for the premiership: Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman. The pact comes after weeks of infighting over who should lead the bloc, with less than a month before Israelis vote.
Yair Lapid, Eisenkot of Yashar, Bennett, Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu and Yair Golan of the Democrats met at Lapid's home in Tel Aviv.
Lapid and Bennett are running on a joint list called Together.
In a signed "document of principles," the self-described heads of the "parties of repair and hope" did not mention Netanyahu by name.
"We, the heads of the parties of repair, convene a month before election day recognizing that these are critical elections for the fate of the state. Although there are ideological disagreements between us, establishing a Zionist and statesmanlike government of repair and rebuilding is our shared overriding goal, and it is our duty to act together to achieve it," the document said.
"The party leaders pledge to do everything, each in their own sphere, to expand the electorate, attract voters from all parts of the nation, secure a majority in the election and establish a government that will preserve and strengthen Israel as a Jewish and democratic state," it said.
"From today until the formation of the government, none of us, nor anyone acting on our behalf, will attack a partner party in the bloc or its leader," the leaders pledged.
The leaders agreed to form three joint working groups within 48 hours.
The first will work to raise the bloc's turnout, prepare for election day and safeguard "the integrity of the election."
The second will draft the next government's guidelines, including "equality in the burden" of military service, a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 massacre, a term limit for the prime minister, a constitution and a 100-day action plan.
The third will coordinate communications and fight "fake news and smear campaigns," according to the document.
"We are united and determined to bring repair and hope to the State of Israel," the leaders wrote, adding, "We call on every citizen who believes in this country, its values and its strength, to come out with us to vote on election day to determine together the future of our children."
Netanyahu claimed on X that Eisenkot would seek to form a government with Lapid, Golan, Bennett, Lieberman and Arab parties.
"Only a strong Likud will stop them," he wrote.
He posted an AI-altered version of the leaders' group photo, adding United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas and Hadash-Ta'al leader Ahmad Tibi.
Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich had earlier shared the photo with the comment, "This is dangerous."
Eisenkot, the bloc's leading contender in polls, said shortly before the meeting that Abbas' United Arab List would not be part of a government he leads, Haaretz reported.
Yoav Segalovitz of Abbas' party replied that X: "Eisenkot will not have a government without Ra'am."
"Tonight I was filled again with hope. I am confident in our ability to win 63 seats and together fix Israel," Bennett wrote on X.
"We agreed on full cooperation until the elections, on election day and also after the elections, to establish a government of repair for Israel," he added.
Lieberman, who holds Netanyahu's government responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, wrote: "On Oct. 27 we will topple the massacre government and return the State of Israel to normal life and the right path."
Before the meeting, Golan wrote: "We have one shared mission, and it is to save Israel."
About a week ago, Eisenkot said Bennett and Lieberman were hurting the bloc by not backing his candidacy. "A rotation is not on the table. I oppose an alternate prime minister. It's undemocratic," he said. Lieberman has called for focusing on the bloc's overall result rather than who ranks first.
Recent polls show the opposition winning 54 to 56 seats and Netanyahu's bloc 50 to 52, short of the 61 needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
Eisenkot's Yashar averages 23 seats in recent polls, ahead of Likud at 19.
Benny Gantz's Blue and White party, which did not join the meeting, sent a truck to the venue bearing the slogan "The blocs are stalling Israel."
The Israeli opposition leaders said they will address the question of who leads the next government only after the Oct. 27 vote.
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