Youth Poll Shows Bennett Leading, Netanyahu Fourth, Shas Failing
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
A poll of Israeli youth aged 18-22 shows Naftali Bennett's party leading with 16 seats, followed by Gadi Eisenkot and Itamar Ben-Gvir's parties with 15 each. Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud is fourth with 14 seats, and the Shas party fails to cross the electoral threshold. Security and the cost of living are the top issues for young voters. The poll was conducted by ynet and Yediot Ahronot from October 5-6.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Naftali Bennett's party leads a youth poll with 16 seats, ahead of Netanyahu's Likud with 14.
- Gadi Eisenkot and Itamar Ben-Gvir's parties tie for second place with 15 seats each.
- Shas fails to cross the electoral threshold among young voters in the survey.
- A new Hacharedi Public party, led by Moti Leitner, secures 5 seats in the youth poll.
- Security and cost of living are the top issues for young Israeli voters.
- Family influence is significant, with 46% of youth voting like their parents.
A new poll focusing exclusively on young voters aged 18-22 indicates a dramatic shift in the Israeli political landscape, with Naftali Bennett's Bayit Yehudi party emerging as the frontrunner. The survey, conducted by ynet and Yediot Ahronot, projects Bennett's party securing 16 seats. Close behind are Gadi Eisenkot's Yishai! and Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit, each with 15 seats. Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is relegated to fourth place with only 14 seats, mirroring the projected results for Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin's Religious Zionism and Zehut parties.
The poll highlights a tight race at the top, with five parties falling within a two-seat margin. Further down the spectrum, Yisrael Beiteinu, HaDemocratim, and the Joint List are each projected to win nine seats. Yahadut HaTorah receives eight seats, while the United List of Reservists and the Economic party garner six seats.
A significant finding concerns the ultra-Orthodox parties. While Shas fails to cross the electoral threshold among young voters, Yahadut HaTorah maintains its relative strength with eight seats. Notably, a new party, Hacharedi Public, led by Moti Leitner, secures five seats, surpassing the electoral threshold with just over 3% of the youth vote, an unusual achievement for a party that has not previously cleared the threshold in general polls.
Researchers emphasize that this is not a standard national poll but a simulation of how the Knesset might look if only these young voters decided the outcome. The poll also reveals demographic divides, with the Religious Zionism and Zehut list leading among religious youth, while Bennett leads among secular youth. Security and the cost of living are the primary concerns for young voters, cited by 27% and 25% respectively. The issue of ultra-Orthodox conscription and burden-sharing also resonates, with 48% of respondents feeling the government's policy does not represent their views.
Family influence on voting patterns is also evident, with 46% of young people intending to vote for the same party as at least one parent. This familial continuity is most pronounced among Likud supporters, where 71% plan to follow their parents' choice, compared to lower percentages for supporters of Bennett's and Ben-Gvir's parties. Regarding election participation, 67% of respondents are certain they will vote, with an additional 19% likely to do so, while 14% remain undecided.
Mentioned
