Poll Shows Netanyahu Leading Gantz by 5 Seats, Coalition Short of Majority

A new poll conducted by Direct Polls for i24NEWS indicates that the Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, would secure 27 seats in the Knesset, while the National Unity party, headed by Gadi Eisenkot, would receive 22 seats. The current coalition parties combined would garner only 56 seats, falling short of the 61 needed to form a government. Notably, the joint list of Yoaz Hendel and Ze'ev Elkin, along with Benny Gantz's National Unity party, would remain below the electoral threshold, failing to enter the Knesset. The Religious Zionism-Identity list is projected to win six seats, while the Arab party Ra'am would receive five seats. The 'Am Echad Yisrael' list is predicted to secure four seats, just at the threshold. If the current coalition parties, Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Otzma Yehudit, and Religious Zionism-Identity, were to run together, their bloc would total 56 seats. The Joint List and Ra'am together would win 12 seats.