Poll Shows Coalition and Opposition Neck-and-Neck, Netanyahu Preferred PM

A new poll released Friday indicates a near-even split in Knesset seats between governing coalition parties and opposition parties if elections were held today. The survey also revealed that while Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yishar Party, and Naftali Bennett, head of the Ba'Yachad list, are seen as more suitable for the role of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu remains the public's preferred choice for the position. The Yishar Party would secure 21 seats, followed by the Likud with 20, and Ba'Yachad with 13. Other parties projected to gain seats include the Democrats (9), Yisrael Beiteinu (9), Otzma Yehudit (8), the Joint List (7), United Torah Judaism (7), Shas (7), Religious Zionism and Feiglin (6), Amcha Israel (4), and the Reserve and Economic list (4). The results project 52 seats for the coalition, 52 for the opposition, 12 for Arab parties, and 4 for the Reserve and Economic list, creating a tie between the coalition and opposition blocs. Regarding leadership suitability, 46% of respondents deemed Eisenkot the most appropriate for Prime Minister, compared to 40% for Netanyahu. Bennett was favored by 44% over Netanyahu's 42%. Additionally, 44% found Netanyahu most suitable, while 38% preferred Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu. Despite these perceptions of suitability, 38% of Israelis want Netanyahu to be Prime Minister, with 24% favoring Eisenkot and 14% supporting Bennett. The poll also found that 59% oppose the inclusion of an Arab party in a future coalition, while 36% support it. Conversely, 53% favor the participation of a Haredi party in a future coalition, with 41% opposing it.