New Poll Shows Benny Gantz Leading Netanyahu, Blocs Tied Ahead of Israeli Elections

A new poll released by Israel's Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11) on Monday evening indicates that Benny Gantz's "Yachad" party is leading the electoral race with 24 seats. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is projected to win 20 seats, while Gantz's party has maintained its strength since the previous poll. The poll also shows the two main political blocs tied at 52 seats each, preventing either side from forming a government. Arab parties collectively secured 12 seats.

Other parties also showed shifts in the poll. Naftali Bennett's "Yachad" party remained at 12 seats. Yair Golan's "Democrats" party dropped to 8 seats, while Avigdor Lieberman's "Yisrael Beiteinu" and Itamar Ben-Gvir's "Otzma Yehudit" each gained a seat, reaching 8 seats. "United Torah Judaism" fell to 7 seats, and Aryeh Deri's "Shas" party held steady at 7 seats. "Religious Zionism" rose to 6 seats, and the Joint List garnered 7 seats, with the United List taking 5 seats.

Two new parties, "Amcha Israel" led by Ofer Winter and "Reserve and Economy" led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha, each crossed the electoral threshold with 4 seats. However, the pollsters excluded the Hendel-Zelekha list from the calculations of either bloc. The poll also revealed that 49% of respondents believe Netanyahu's performance and handling of warnings prior to the October 7th attacks will influence their vote, a sentiment shared by 65% of opposition voters and 32% of coalition voters.

Regarding suitability for prime minister, Gantz was favored by 39% of respondents, compared to 36% for Netanyahu. When compared to Bennett, Netanyahu received 37% support versus Bennett's 32%. The poll indicated that 39% of participants expect the upcoming elections to yield a decisive result, while 29% anticipate another round of elections. If no clear winner emerges, 36% favored new elections, 27% supported a unity government, and 21% backed a government reliant on Arab party support.