New Poll Shows Netanyahu Leading Race for Next Prime Minister

A new poll conducted on September 9, 2026, by NEXT DATA and analyzed by Shlomo Filber for News 14, indicates significant shifts in the Israeli political landscape ahead of the 26th Knesset elections. The survey suggests the right-wing bloc would secure 64 seats, while the left-wing bloc would maintain 44 seats, and Arab parties would drop to 12 seats.

Within individual parties, the Likud party gains one seat, reaching 31. Yesh Atid remains stable in second place with 22 seats. Shas holds steady with 10 seats, while the Democratic Party (HaDemocratim) falls from 10 to 8 seats. Religious Zionism-Identity and Otzma Yehudit each maintain 8 seats. Both Bayit Yehudi and Yisrael Beiteinu gain one seat, reaching 7 seats each, matching United Torah Judaism which also holds 7 seats.

The Joint List weakens to 6 seats, while Ra'am gains one seat to reach 6. Parties failing to pass the electoral threshold include Am Israel, which drops to 2.1%, HaMiluimnikim/HaKalkalit at 1.4%, and Blue and White with only 0.2%. Noam and HaTzibur HaHaredi each receive 0.1% of the vote.

In a head-to-head matchup for prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu leads with 51%, followed by Gadi Eisenkot who has risen to 34%. Naftali Bennett weakens to 11%, and Avigdor Lieberman receives 4%. In a direct comparison between Netanyahu and Eisenkot, Netanyahu leads 53% to 47%.

The poll surveyed 537 adults from the general population.