Poll Shows Gadi Eisenkot Leading Netanyahu for First Time

A new poll conducted for Israel's Channel 12 by the Midgam Institute shows Gadi Eisenkot leading Benjamin Netanyahu in suitability for prime minister, with 37% to Netanyahu's 34%. In a separate comparison, Netanyahu garnered 46% compared to Naftali Bennett's 34% for the role. The survey, which polled 301 first-time Israeli Jewish voters aged 18-22 between September 15-22, also indicated that approximately 550,000 young people will vote for the first time in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections, representing a potential bloc of 10 to 12 seats. Parental influence remains significant, with 59% of young voters stating they would vote for the same party as their parents, while 21% indicated they would vote differently.

Separately, a poll published by the Maariv newspaper shows Gadi Eisenkot's list leading the electoral race with 23 seats, while Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has fallen to 18 seats. Naftali Bennett's "Together" list is projected to win 13 seats. Other parties include "Democrats" and "Yisrael Beiteinu" with 9 seats each, and "Otzma Yehudit" with 8 seats. The Arab political landscape shows the "Joint List" securing 7 seats and the "United Arab List" obtaining 5 seats, totaling 12 seats between them. Shas and Yahadut HaTorah are each expected to receive 7 seats, "Religious Zionism-Identity" 6 seats, and "Amcha Israel" and Yoav Gallant's list 4 seats each. The poll for Maariv also indicated that the Religious Zionism party would receive 6% of the vote and Otzma Yehudit 5%. The margin of error for the Channel 12 poll was 4.4%.