New Poll Shows Coalition Bloc Below 50 Seats, Netanyahu Faces Blame

A new poll conducted by Channel 12 News indicates a significant shift in the Israeli political landscape, with the current coalition bloc projected to win only 49 seats in the Knesset. The Yisrael! party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, emerges as the largest party with 23 mandates, followed by the Likud party with 21 seats. The poll also suggests a setback for Ofer Winter's newly launched party, though specific seat numbers for his party were not detailed.

Beyond electoral projections, the survey delved into public opinion regarding responsibility for the October 7th failures. A majority of respondents, 65%, assign significant blame to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the events. When asked about the division of responsibility between the government and the military, 47% believe both are equally responsible, while 25% point solely to the government and 17% to the military.

Public support for a state commission of inquiry into the October 7th failures is high, with 66% of respondents favoring its establishment. This support is particularly strong among opposition voters, with 93% in favor, and also significant among voters of Arab parties at 80%. Among coalition voters, only 37% support such an inquiry.

The poll also examined voter considerations regarding the upcoming elections. A substantial 33% of those intending to vote for coalition parties stated that the October 7th failures have caused them to reconsider their voting choice, with 15% saying "very much so" and 18% saying "to a large extent." Conversely, 63% indicated the failures had little or no impact on their voting decision.

In a separate question about leadership suitability for prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu garnered 41% support compared to 37% for Naftali Bennett. However, among opposition voters, Bennett led significantly, while Netanyahu was the clear choice for coalition voters.