The recent temporary boost in polls for Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and his Likud party after the successful Jenin operation seems to have faded, as new surveys released on Sunday indicate that he would fail to form a coalition if fresh elections were held today.
According to the polls broadcasted by two major news channels, Netanyahu’s current right-wing, hard-right, and ultra-Orthodox coalition would secure 54 seats in the Knesset, losing its current majority of 64 out of 120 seats.
Opposition parties, on the other hand, could potentially assemble a 61-seat coalition without relying on the majority Arab Hadash-Ta’al party.
One poll conducted by Channel 12 shows that in a new election, Likud would win 28 seats, down from 32 in the November 2022 elections, maintaining its position as the largest party. Benny Gantz’s National Unity party would win 26 seats, up from 12 in November, while Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid would win 20 seats, down from 24. Gantz’s party seems to be gaining popularity at the expense of Yesh Atid.
Gantz’s party has seen a rise in popularity as a centrist party, especially due to public dissatisfaction with the government’s proposed judicial reforms. Gantz was involved in negotiations with Likud regarding these reforms, and he recently called for the resumption of negotiations amid renewed efforts from the hardline coalition to push forward with the legislative package.
The polls also suggest a decline in support for Netanyahu’s coalition partners, with the far-right union of Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit dropping to nine seats from their current 14. The ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism would win 10 and seven seats, respectively, in a fresh election.
Respondents were also asked about the possibility of Gantz joining Netanyahu’s coalition at the expense of far-right ministers, and 43% expressed support for such a move, while 42% opposed it. Among opposition voters, 55% would support the move, while among Netanyahu bloc voters, 53% would oppose it.
Another poll conducted by public broadcaster Kan showed similar results but in a different configuration. According to this poll, Gantz’s party would become the largest with 29 seats, while Likud would drop to 28 seats. Yesh Atid would lose seven seats compared to the November elections, ending up with 17 seats.
The polls were released following a major military operation in Jenin and ongoing protests against the government’s judicial overhaul plans. The Knesset is expected to approve the first reading of a bill related to the judicial reforms today.
{Matzav.com Israel}
