New Poll Shows Dramatic Shift in Israeli Election Race

A new poll published by "Israel Hayom" indicates a significant shift in the upcoming election landscape, with the "Yesh!" party now leading with 24 mandates, surpassing the Likud party, which garnered 21 mandates. The "Achad" party, a joint list of Bennett and Lapid, follows in third place with 13 mandates.

Other parties also saw changes in their projected seat count. Democrats and Yisrael Beiteinu are each projected to receive 9 mandates. In the Haredi sector, United Torah Judaism is expected to win 8 mandates, while Shas is projected at 7. Otzma Yehudit and the Joint List also secured 7 mandates each.

The poll shows the Religious Zionism party receiving 6 mandates, Ra'am with 5, and the "Amcha Israel" party narrowly crossing the electoral threshold with 4 mandates. Political commentator Amit Segal noted the political upheaval, advising to "expect surprises."

Analyzing the bloc situation, the opposition holds an advantage with 55 mandates compared to the coalition's 53. Arab parties collectively hold an additional 12 mandates. However, neither bloc has reached the 61 mandates required to form a government.

This poll marks a reversal of a trend observed over recent months, where opposition parties had been gaining momentum. The latest data suggests this trend is now reversing, with the gaps between the parties narrowing.