New Poll Shows Likud Losing Knesset Lead Ahead of Elections

A new poll released ahead of upcoming elections indicates a shift in Israeli voter preferences, with the Likud party no longer holding the leading position in the Knesset. The survey, conducted after final party lists were established, shows Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar!" party leading with 25 mandates. The Likud party is projected to receive 21 mandates, while Naftali Bennett's "BeYahad" party is expected to secure 14.

The poll also highlights the potential impact of smaller parties. Ofer Winter's "Amcha Yisrael" party is projected to gain four mandates, potentially becoming a kingmaker. In contrast, the joint list of Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelicha is predicted to fall short of the electoral threshold with 2.8% of the vote, which could cost the opposition bloc around 140,000 votes or 3.5 mandates. Benny Gantz's "Kachol Lavan" party is polling at a mere 0.9%, potentially increasing opposition losses to 4.5 to 5 mandates.

Other parties projected to enter the Knesset include Yisrael Beiteinu and "Democrats" with nine mandates each. "Otzma Yehudit," Shas, "United Torah Judaism," and the "Joint Arab List" are each expected to receive seven mandates. "Religious Zionism-Zeut" and Ra'am are projected to gain five mandates.

Based on these projections, the current coalition bloc, including Winter's party, would secure 51 mandates. The Zionist opposition bloc would have 57 mandates, and Arab parties would hold 12. The poll suggests that economic issues, the cost of living, foreign policy, and security concerns are the primary drivers influencing voter choices, with the traditional divide between Netanyahu supporters and opponents having less impact than usual.

The article notes a rapidly changing political landscape in Israel, marked by growing pessimism and concern for state institutions. Recent polls reflect significant electoral shifts, a weakening of the current coalition, and record low public confidence in the stability of upcoming elections.