A new seat projection published by Time Israel on June 18, 2026, and conducted by Taktika Research and Media, shows a dramatic shift at the top of Israeli politics. For the first time, Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party and an MK, matches Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, underscoring that Likud is no longer the undisputed largest party in the polls.
The survey credits Likud with 23 seats and Yashar, led by Eisenkot, with 23 as well. Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett's combined list is projected at 19 seats. Below them, Shas and Yisrael Beytenu each receive 10 seats, Otzma Yehudit 9, United Torah Judaism 8, the Democrats 8, and Hadash-Ta'al and Ra'am 5 seats each.
The bloc breakdown is even more striking for Netanyahu's camp. The current coalition bloc, made up of Likud, Shas, Otzma Yehudit, and United Torah Judaism, falls to 50 seats. The opposition bloc climbs to 70 seats, including 10 seats held jointly by the Arab parties Ra'am and Hadash-Ta'al.
The poll also shows several familiar parties failing to cross the electoral threshold and dropping to zero seats, including Religious Zionism, Blue and White, the Reservists party, and Balad. The result presents a difficult picture for the governing bloc and suggests Eisenkot has strengthened his position as a central rival to Netanyahu.
