Polls Show Gadi Eisenkot Losing Support, Ofer Winter Gaining

Recent polling data indicates a decline in support for Gadi Eisenkot, who has lost three seats in the past month, falling from a peak of 24 seats. This downturn follows a challenging week marked by conflicting narratives regarding potential cooperation with Arab parties, raising questions about his political strategy. While Eisenkot's support had previously been on the rise, analysts suggest this may now be reversing.

Simultaneously, other polls are aligning with the publication's own surveys, which do not show Eisenkot securing 61 seats without the support of Arab factions. This situation is reportedly creating internal tensions within his political bloc, exacerbated by ongoing disputes with figures like Avigdor Lieberman and Naftali Bennett. There is speculation that Eisenkot may have already reached his electoral peak, and a subsequent decline is now observable.

In contrast, Naftali Bennett appears to be recovering, regaining nine seats in the polls, though most changes are described as minor compared to the previous week. The article also highlights shifts within the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) political sphere, noting that separatist factions are gaining more traction than integrationist ones. This trend, particularly concerning the "Black Flag" movement, is seen as potentially costing the Netanyahu bloc crucial votes.

Shas is identified as the primary political party suffering from this Haredi fragmentation, more so than Ashkenazi Haredi parties. The article suggests that the "bleeding" of support for Ofer Winter's new party, "Am Israel," may have stopped, with his faction now polling at five seats. This potential reversal in Winter's trend warrants close observation in the coming weeks.

Netanyahu faces a decision on how to address the challenge posed by Winter's party, as his bloc currently lacks the necessary 60 seats without it. The article posits that attacks against Winter might inadvertently bolster his support, particularly drawing from voters who have shifted away from the right-wing bloc towards parties like Lieberman's and Bennett's, and notably, Eisenkot's.