New Poll Shows Netanyahu Bloc Falling Short of Majority

A new Israeli political poll released by Channel 16 indicates a significant shift in the political landscape, with the bloc supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu projected to win only 52 seats in the Knesset, falling short of a majority. The opposition bloc is similarly positioned with 53 seats, leaving neither side with a clear path to forming a government.

The surprise of the poll comes at the lower end of the list, where the "Amcha Yisrael" list, led by Ofer Winter, and the joint list of Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Ze'evicha, are projected to surpass the electoral threshold, each securing 4 seats. This development reshapes the distribution of power among the parties.

The "Yesher!" party leads the poll with 21 seats, followed by the Likud party, headed by Netanyahu, in second place with 18 seats. The "Be'yachad" party is in third with 16 seats. Fourth place is a tie between The Democrats, Otzma Yehudit, and Shas, each receiving 9 seats.

Further down the list, United Torah Judaism and Yisrael Beiteinu are projected to win 7 seats each, while the Arab Joint List garners 6 seats. Religious Zionism and Ra'am each receive 5 seats. The poll concludes with "HaMiluimnikim-HaKalkalit" and Winter's "Amcha Yisrael" both securing 4 seats.

Notably, the poll shows the Haredi Public party and Benny Gantz's National Unity party failing to cross the electoral threshold.