New Poll Shows Israeli Political Blocs Tied, "Yashar!" Leads

A new poll released by News 13 indicates a significant shift in Israel's political landscape, with the two main blocs now equally poised to win 53 seats each in the Knesset. The "Yashar!" party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, has emerged as the largest single party with 22 seats, despite losing two seats from the previous week. Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has gained two seats, reaching 21 seats and solidifying its position.

Naftali Bennett's party has dropped to 12 seats, losing one seat. Arab parties collectively hold 14 seats. In the race for prime minister, Eisenkot maintains a lead, with 47% of respondents supporting him compared to 37% for Netanyahu.

Other parties' projected seat counts include Yair Golan's "Democrats" with 11 seats, the United List with nine, Avigdor Lieberman's "Yisrael Beiteinu" and "Yahadut HaTorah" with eight seats each. "Otzma Yehudit" and Shas are projected to win seven seats apiece, losing one seat each. The alliance of Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin could secure six seats, and Ra'am five.

Ofer Winter's party is expected to pass the electoral threshold with four seats. Parties failing to cross the threshold include Yoaz Hendel and Hili Tropper's "Beit Tzioni" (2.2%), Benny Gantz's "Blue and White" (1.2%), and the party of Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein (0.6%).

The poll also examined potential electoral alliances. A joint list of Eisenkot and Bennett would yield 31 seats, three fewer than they would win separately. In this scenario, Likud would increase to 22 seats. An alliance between Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich would result in 11 seats, down from a combined 13 if they ran independently. Under this specific alliance scenario, "Yashar!" would gain 23 seats, Likud 22, and Ofer Winter's party would increase to five seats.