Netanyahu Gains as Center-Left Remains Split in News 12 Poll

A News 12 poll aired on Thursday, June 26, 2026, showed Benjamin Netanyahu and his bloc gaining one seat despite a difficult political week marked by ultra-Orthodox road blockades, the Iran deal and the situation in Lebanon. Commentators said the result may reflect public support for going to war with Iran, with 52% saying Israel should have launched the war, and a shift in perceptions of the fighting, as 18% now say Israel won, up from 11% the previous week. The poll still found 43% saying Israel lost and 29% saying neither side won.

Amid that backdrop, Naftali Bennett kept slipping by one mandate a week. Eight weeks after his political merger, he has lost eight seats, and his gap with Netanyahu widened to 8% on the question of who is best suited to be prime minister. Gideon Sa'ar’s camp still leads Netanyahu on that measure, but Bennett is now losing both in seats and in the leadership race. Commentators said he is trying to pivot toward presenting plans and a platform, and that the new alliance with Yair Lapid appears to have cost him some of his right-wing appeal.

The poll also gave the new centrist trio of Benny Gantz, Dadi Shmihi and Yoaz Hendel five seats. Analysts said that is a respectable starting point, but warned the project remains unfinished and could still be joined by other figures, including Chili Trooper, Gilad Erdan or Ayelet Shaked, while Ofer Winter is positioned further to the right. Even so, the new list does not create a viable governing bloc for either camp and does not yet serve as a kingmaker.

The overall bloc numbers shifted slightly, with the coalition rising to 52 seats. Opposition parties, with Arab parties included, total 68. The poll also showed strong opposition to Netanyahu’s reported deal with the ultra-Orthodox over a political inquiry into the October 7 massacre, as well as to weakening the legal adviser system and to media legislation.