Israeli Media Favors Governing Coalition Despite Poll Deficit

Despite consistently trailing in public opinion polls for over three years, Israel's governing coalition receives a disproportionately large share of media coverage, according to multiple analyses. Between November 2025 and February 2026, coalition representatives garnered 68% of broadcast time across major news channels, compared to 32% for the opposition. This contrasts sharply with polling data during the same period, which showed the coalition bloc consistently below 52 mandates, while the opposition bloc ranged between 61 and 73.

Further analysis reveals that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alone received 6,548 minutes of broadcast time in the November 2025-February 2026 period, more than four times that of opposition leader Yair Lapid. Notably, Netanyahu had not given an interview to Israeli media since March 2021, with much of his airtime attributed to anonymous "senior diplomatic sources" or direct leaks from his office. This practice, where the Prime Minister's office disseminates statements to be attributed to such anonymous sources, has been documented by "The Seventh Eye" media watchdog.

The article also highlights a significant increase in government advertising funds directed towards pro-coalition outlets. Channel 14's share of government advertising spending surged by 532% since 2022, while News 13's share decreased substantially. This trend is seen as a government effort to bolster its narrative, with Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi openly stating his media reforms aim to dismantle a perceived "left-wing monopoly on consciousness."

Even when Netanyahu was in opposition after the formation of the Bennett-Lapid government in July 2021, he received substantial media exposure, ranking second only to the sitting Prime Minister. Similarly, Itamar Ben-Gvir, then a leader of a small opposition party, garnered significant media attention that contributed to his political rise. The analysis suggests that media exposure is not solely dictated by current government status but also by the personalities involved and strategic media engagement.