Israeli Poll Shows Likud Leading, Ben Gvir's Party Gains Ahead of Elections

A new i24NEWS poll conducted by Direct Polls indicates the Likud party remains the frontrunner in Israeli legislative election intentions, projected to win 27 seats. Itamar Ben Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party has seen a one-seat increase, reaching 8 mandates and tying with United Torah Judaism, which remained stable. Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar! party is projected to come in second with 21 seats, a slight decrease from the previous poll. Yair Golan's Democrats also lost a seat, falling to 9 mandates, while Beyahad maintained 9 seats. Avigdor Liberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party dropped to 7 seats, equaling the Shas party. The Religious Zionist Party and Zehut coalition is expected to secure 6 seats, with Mansour Abbas's Ra'am gaining one seat to also reach 6. Ofer Winter's Amkha Israel party declined by one seat to 4 mandates, narrowly above the electoral threshold. Several parties, including The Reservists and the Economic Party, are polling at 1.6%, while others remain below the 1% mark and would not enter the Knesset. The current coalition parties are projected to win 60 seats, falling one seat short of an absolute majority in the Knesset. The poll surveyed 537 Israelis aged 18 and over on September 24, with a margin of error of ±4.2% and a 95% confidence level.