Poll Shows Right-Wing Bloc Leading, Netanyahu Tops PM Preference

A new poll released by Channel 14 on Thursday indicates a significant lead for the right-wing bloc in Israel, projecting 63 seats in the Knesset compared to 45 for the left-wing bloc. Arab parties are projected to win 12 seats.

The Likud party leads among individual parties with 31 seats, followed by the new Yachad party, led by Naftali Bennett, which has surged to 22 seats, a decrease of two seats from the previous poll. Shas is projected to receive 10 seats, while Bennett's party, Yachad, has gained three seats to reach nine. The Democrats and United Torah Judaism are each expected to secure 8 seats, with the latter gaining one seat. Religious Zionism and Zehut, following their recent union, are projected to win 7 seats, as is Otzma Yehudit. The Hadash-Ta'al-Balad faction also receives 7 seats. Yisrael Beiteinu drops to 6 seats, and Ra'am closes the list with 5 seats.

The poll also highlights the impact of the union between Smotrich and Feiglin, with Ofer Winter's "Am Israel" party falling below the electoral threshold, garnering only 2.7% of the vote. Other parties failing to cross the threshold include "Zionist Reservists" led by Chili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel (1.3%), Blue and White (1.2%), Noam L'Yisrael (0.3%), and "The Unity Party" (0.1%).

In terms of leadership, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads significantly in preference for prime minister, with 50% support. Gadi Eisenkot follows with 32%, Naftali Bennett with 16%, and Avigdor Lieberman with 2%. In a direct comparison, Netanyahu holds a 54% to 46% advantage over Eisenkot.

The survey was conducted by NEXT DATA among 865 adults and analyzed by Shlomo Filber.