New Polls Show "Yashar" Party Leading, Netanyahu Bloc Tied With Opposition

Two Israeli television channels, Kan 11 and Channel 13, have released the first public opinion polls following the submission of party lists for the upcoming Knesset elections. The "Kantar" poll, published by Kan 11, projects the "Yashar" party as the largest faction with 24 seats. The "Likud" party is predicted to receive 21 seats, followed by "Bayehad" with 12, "Democratim" with 9, and "Yahadut HaTorah" with 8. Other parties like Shas, "Yisrael Beiteinu," "Otzma Yehudit," and the joint Arab list are each projected to win 7 seats. Ra'am and "Tzionut Datit" are expected to get 5 seats each, with "Amcha Israel" and the joint list of Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zalicha securing 4 seats. This poll indicates that the bloc supporting Prime Minister Netanyahu would receive 52 seats, equal to the "Eisenkot bloc" (opposition parties), excluding Arab parties and the Hendel-Zalicha list.

Channel 13's poll presents slightly different results, placing "Yashar" at 22 seats and "Likud" at 19. "Bayehad" is projected to get 13 seats, "Democratim" 10, and "Otzma Yehudit" 9. "Yahadut HaTorah" and "Yisrael Beiteinu" are each expected to win 8 seats, with the joint Arab list also at 8. Shas is predicted to secure 7 seats, while "Tzionut Datit" and "Zeut" would each get 6 seats, as would Ra'am. "Amcha Israel" is projected to win 4 seats, and Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zalicha would not pass the electoral threshold.

According to Channel 13's survey, the coalition parties would garner 53 seats, while the opposition would also secure 53 seats, again excluding Arab parties from the bloc calculations. The elections are for the 26th Knesset.