New Poll Shows Netanyahu's Likud Losing Ground, Opposition Bloc Leads

A new poll published by Maariv indicates a decline for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, which has dropped to 18 Knesset seats, its lowest point in the current election cycle. The poll also shows Gadi Eisenkot's party gaining two seats to reach 23, while Naftali Bennett's party loses one seat to 13. Yair Golan's Democrats also shed a seat, settling at 9.

Other parties show mixed results: Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu and Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit remain stable with 9 and 8 seats respectively. Yahadut HaTorah, Shas, and the Joint List hold steady at 7 seats each. Mansour Abbas's Ra'am remains at 5 seats. Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism and Identity party gains one seat to reach 6. Ofer Winter's Am Israel party holds 4 seats.

A significant jump is seen by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zehlikha's HaMiluim VeHaKalkalit party, which gains four seats and crosses the electoral threshold, after previously polling below it. Despite this party's rise, the overall bloc balance remains largely unchanged. The Zionist opposition bloc stands at 54 seats without the new party, and 50 seats with it if it joins Netanyahu's coalition. Without Winter's party, Netanyahu's potential coalition stands at 46 seats. Arab parties collectively maintain 12 seats.

In leadership suitability questions, Gadi Eisenkot leads Benjamin Netanyahu 48% to 40%, though the gap has narrowed from 12% to 8% in a week. Netanyahu also narrowed the gap with Naftali Bennett, who leads 44% to 41%, a 5% difference from the previous week. Netanyahu maintains a lead over Avigdor Lieberman, 42% to 38%.

Separately, the poll addressed the conflict in Yemen, with 38% of respondents believing Israel should assist Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, contingent on a normalization agreement. Another 16% supported aid without immediate political conditions, totaling 54% in favor of assistance. About 26% opposed Israeli involvement, and 20% were undecided.