New Poll Shows Political Blocs Tied Ahead of Elections

A dramatic new poll released by "HaMadad" for Channel 13 News indicates a significant shift in Israeli political allegiances following the merger of the Identity and Religious Zionism parties. The unified list, led by Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, is projected to gain at least two seats, rising to six mandates. Former IDF General Yair Winter also enters the political arena with four mandates. The "Otzma Yehudit" party is projected to fall to seven mandates, while the ultra-Orthodox parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, are polling at eight and seven mandates respectively. The Likud party is currently at 21 mandates, contributing to a right-wing bloc totaling 53 mandates, an increase of at least two seats from previous surveys.

On the left, Benny Gantz's National Unity party emerges as the largest faction with 22 mandates. Naftali Bennett's party is polling at 12 mandates, and the Democratic Party has 11. Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party is at eight mandates, bringing the center-left bloc to a total of 53 mandates. Arab parties collectively are polling at 14 mandates, with Hadash-Ta'al-Balad at nine and Ra'am at five.