New Poll Shows Netanyahu Bloc Edging Ahead for First Time in Months

A new poll released by Channel 13 News on Wednesday indicates a significant shift in the Israeli political landscape, with the bloc supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gaining a narrow majority for the first time in a considerable period. The Netanyahu bloc now holds 54 mandates, surpassing the "change bloc" by two mandates, which stands at 52. This development comes as individual parties experience fluctuations in support.

Leading the individual party standings is Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar" party with 22 mandates, while Netanyahu's Likud party has seen its support decrease to 18 mandates. Naftali Bennett's "Bayit Yehudi" party has dropped to 12 mandates, and Yair Golan's "HaDemocratim" party remains stable with 10 mandates. Avigdor Lieberman's "Yisrael Beiteinu" and the Joint Arab List each garnered 8 mandates.

The poll also shows a surge for the joint list of the Religious Zionism party led by Bezalel Smotrich and the "Identity" party of Moshe Feiglin, which together secured 8 mandates. Itamar Ben-Gvir's "Otzma Yehudit" party also received 8 mandates.

Among the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas each received 7 mandates, reflecting relative stability in this sector compared to other parties. Ofer Winter's "Amcha Yisrael" party made a notable jump to 6 mandates, safely above the electoral threshold, with Ra'am party also securing 6 mandates.

Notably, Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha's "HaMiluimnikim VeHakalkala" party remains below the electoral threshold, failing to cross it according to this survey despite being close.