Israel's primary centrist challengers to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced they were joining forces ahead of April elections.
Retired military chief Benny Gantz and head of the Yesh Atid party Yair Lapid said they would present a joint list for the upcoming vote that "will constitute the new Israeli ruling party." In a joint statement, the two said they were "motivated by national responsibility."
"The new ruling party will bring forth a cadre of security and social leaders to ensure Israel's security and to reconnect its people and heal the divide within Israeli society," the AP cited the statement as saying.
In December, the Israeli ruling coalition decided to dissolve parliament and call new elections on April 9.
