New Poll Shows Netanyahu's Likud Losing Support as Arab Parties Gain
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
A new poll shows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party losing support, dropping to 18 seats, while Arab parties collectively gained seats, reaching 14. The coalition and opposition blocs are currently tied at 51 seats each. Gadi Eisenkot leads Netanyahu in preferred prime minister rankings. If no party wins a majority, most Israelis favor a government of national unity.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Likud dropped to 18 seats in a new poll, while Arab parties collectively reached 14 seats.
- The coalition and opposition blocs are currently tied with 51 Knesset seats each.
- Gadi Eisenkot is favored over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the premiership by 48% to 41%.
- The "Amcha Yisrael" party and "Reservists and Economic Party" have crossed the electoral threshold.
- A majority of Israelis (55%) prefer a government of national unity if no bloc wins outright.
A new poll conducted by Lazar Research in collaboration with Panel4ALL indicates a shift in Israeli political support, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party losing ground while Arab parties see gains. The survey, conducted between October 14-15, 2026, shows Arab parties collectively reaching a record 14 Knesset seats, each gaining one seat in the past week. Conversely, Likud dropped two seats, now holding 18. Despite Likud's decline, the coalition bloc lost only one seat, totaling 51, due to gains by Yahadut HaTorah (up one to eight seats) and the emergence of "Amcha Yisrael" above the electoral threshold with four seats. "Yisrael Beiteinu" lost one seat, now holding eight.
The poll also revealed a balance between the two main political blocs, with the Zionist opposition bloc also at 51 seats. The "Reservists and Economic Party" crossed the electoral threshold with four seats but is not aligned with either bloc. Even with this party's support, neither bloc would achieve the 61 seats needed to form a government.
In a hypothetical scenario where elections were held today, the "Yashar!" party would lead with 21 seats. Other projected seat allocations include Likud (18), "Behad" (13), "Democrats" (9), "Yisrael Beiteinu" (8), "Otzma Yehudit" (8), "Joint List" (8), "Yahadut HaTorah" (8), Shas (7), "Religious Zionism" (6), Ra'am (6), "Amcha Yisrael" (4), and "Reservists and Economic Party" (4).
Regarding leadership preferences, Gadi Eisenkot leads Netanyahu in the prime ministerial race, with 48% of respondents favoring Eisenkot compared to 41% for Netanyahu. In a head-to-head with Naftali Bennett, Netanyahu is tied at 43%, and against Avigdor Lieberman, Netanyahu holds a 43% to 37% advantage.
Most Israelis (79%) are optimistic about their chosen political bloc's victory. Coalition supporters show higher confidence (90%) than opposition supporters (75%). If no bloc secures a majority, 55% of Israelis prefer a government of national unity, 27% favor new elections, and 18% are undecided. However, views on a unity government differ significantly: 54% of opposition supporters would only back it if led by the opposition leader, while coalition supporters are divided, with 36% favoring Netanyahu as leader and 32% preferring new elections.
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