Netanyahu Gains as Center-Left Scrambles, New Centrist Ticket Starts Small in New Poll

A News 12 poll, published June 26, 2026, shows Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud gaining one seat despite a difficult political week marked by ultra-Orthodox roadblocks, the Iran deal debate, and the situation in Lebanon. Commentators said the rise may reflect public support for Israel's decision to go to war with Iran, and a belief among some respondents that Israel did win the campaign, even though that view remains a minority.

According to the poll, 52% of the general public said Israel should have launched the Iran war, compared with 35% who disagreed. Only 18% said Israel won the war, up seven points from the previous week, while 43% said it lost and 29% said neither side won. Amit Segal said Netanyahu can at least note that “the low point was already last week.”

The poll also shows continued erosion for Naftali Bennett, whose bloc has fallen by one seat each week for eight weeks, losing eight seats since the alliance began. His camp now trails Netanyahu by 8% in the race for prime minister, while Gideon Sa'ar remains ahead of Netanyahu in that matchup. Dana Weiss said the opposition is still at the start of its campaign and is spending much of its effort attacking Eizenkot online.

The new centrist trio of Benny Gantz, Dadi Shmhi and Yoaz Hendel starts with five seats. Commentators said that is respectable but far from enough to change the coalition map, and other names, including Hili Tropper, Gilaad Erdan, Ayelet Shaked and Ofer Winter, may still shift the picture. Amnon Abramovich noted strong public opposition to a Netanyahu deal with the ultra-Orthodox, to weakening the attorney general's office, and to the proposed communications laws. The full poll puts the coalition at 52 seats and the opposition at 58, or 68 including Arab parties, while several small lists remain below the electoral threshold.