Newsru.co.il Poll Reveals Russian-Speaking Voter Preferences for Knesset Elections

A recent online poll conducted by Newsru.co.il, focusing on the upcoming 26th Knesset elections, has provided insights into the political preferences of its Russian-speaking readership. While not a formal sociological study, the poll's results are considered indicative due to the website's long history of such surveys.

If elections were held today, the poll suggests Yisrael Beiteinu (Yisrael Beiteinu), led by Avigdor Lieberman, would receive 32% of the votes from Newsru.co.il readers. The Likud party, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, follows with 18%, and "Behayad" (Behayad) with 9%. When asked about preferred prime minister, Lieberman garnered 28% support, narrowly ahead of Netanyahu at 27%.

The poll also analyzed preferences based on various demographics. Right-wing identifiers (54% of respondents) favored Yisrael Beiteinu (31%) and Likud (30%), with Netanyahu as their preferred premier (46%). Centrists (33%) leaned towards Yisrael Beiteinu (35%) and "Behayad" (21%), preferring Lieberman for prime minister (28%). Left-wing identifiers (4%) overwhelmingly supported "Democratim" (60%), with Yair Golan as their preferred premier (28%).

Further breakdowns revealed distinct patterns. Younger voters (under 40) showed a preference for "Behayad" (23%), while older voters (71+) strongly favored Yisrael Beiteinu (41-46%) and Likud (20-25%), with Lieberman being the preferred prime minister for the oldest age groups. Higher education levels generally correlated with support for Yisrael Beiteinu and Likud, with Netanyahu being the preferred premier for those with higher degrees. Religious individuals, particularly the ultra-Orthodox, showed strong support for parties like "Tzionut HaDatit VeZehut" and Likud, with Netanyahu as their overwhelming choice for prime minister.

Income and country of origin also played a role. Lower income brackets and those from Belarus and Ukraine showed higher support for Yisrael Beiteinu and Lieberman. Conversely, higher income brackets and those who immigrated earlier, particularly before 1990, showed a stronger preference for Likud and Netanyahu. Voters from Moldova showed exceptionally high support for Yisrael Beiteinu (56%).

Analysis by time spent in Israel indicated that longer-term residents tended to favor right-wing parties like Likud, while more recent immigrants, particularly those arriving after 2022, showed some support for the left-wing "Democratim" party. Regional preferences showed Yisrael Beiteinu and Lieberman leading in the South and Central regions, while Likud and Netanyahu were stronger in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria. Interestingly, those who served in the IDF showed a preference for "Behayad" and Netanyahu, while non-service members leaned towards Yisrael Beiteinu and Lieberman.