New Poll Shows Gadi Eisenkot Leading Netanyahu in Israeli Election

A new poll conducted by Kan News indicates that if elections were held today, the "Yashar" party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, would emerge as the largest party. Eisenkot's party is projected to secure 24 seats, maintaining its position from previous surveys. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, in contrast, is shown to be weakening, dropping one seat to 20 mandates. Naftali Bennett's "Beiteinu" party remains stable with 12 seats, ranking third in the poll.

The survey also explored voter sentiment regarding Netanyahu's performance prior to October 7th. Among Likud voters from the 2022 election, 41% stated that Netanyahu's handling of warnings before the Hamas attack would influence their current voting decision, while 46% indicated it would not.

Other parties show shifts: Yisrael Beiteinu and Otzma Yehudit are each projected to gain one seat, reaching eight mandates. Smotrich's Religious Zionism party also strengthens, returning to six seats after a previous poll showed them with five. Yair Golan's "Democrats" party loses a seat, settling at eight mandates, as does United Torah Judaism, which falls to seven seats following recent changes in its list composition.

The poll suggests that even if parties representing reservists and economic interests, such as Hendel-Zalicha and Ofer Vinter's "Amcha Israel," surpass the electoral threshold, the political blocs remain deadlocked. Both the current government and opposition blocs are projected to win 52 seats, insufficient for either to form a government.

Regarding the possibility of election outcomes, 39% of respondents believe there will be a decisive result, while 29% anticipate further rounds of elections. In the event of no clear winner, 36% favor new elections, 27% support a unity government, and 21% would accept a government relying on Arab parties.