New Poll Shows Netanyahu Tied with Eisenkot, Coalition Weakens

A new Israeli public opinion poll indicates a significant shift in the political landscape, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party tied with "Yashar!" led by Gadi Eisenkot, each receiving 23 seats in a hypothetical Knesset election. The poll, conducted by Yossi Tatika and published by Zman Israel, also shows the "Amcha Israel" party, headed by former Brigadier General Ofer Winter, failing to cross the electoral threshold. Winter's independent run is seen as contributing to a fragmentation of the right-wing vote, weakening the current coalition government to 52 seats. The "change bloc" opposition gains strength, reaching 56 seats, while Arab parties collectively secure 13 seats, positioning them as potential kingmakers. Naftali Bennett's "Bayahad" party maintains a strong position with 15 seats. Other parties in the poll include Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas with 10 seats each, United Torah Judaism with 9, and Yair Golan's "HaDemocratim" with 8. The Hadash-Ta'al-Balad list garners 7 seats. At the lower end, Otzma Yehudit and Ra'am each receive 6 seats, while Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party hovers just above the threshold with 4 seats.