Poll Shows Arab Parties at Record High, Coalition and Opposition Tied

Translated & summarized from Panet by baba

CommunityNeutral tone

Arabic · 3 newsrooms covering

A "Maariv" poll shows Arab parties reaching a record 14 seats, while the governing coalition and opposition blocs are tied at 51 seats each. Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is projected to lose two seats, falling to 18. In hypothetical prime ministerial races, Gadi Eisenkot polled higher than Netanyahu. If the next election is inconclusive, 55% of Israelis prefer a unity government.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Arab parties collectively reach a record 14 seats in a new "Maariv" poll.
The governing coalition and opposition blocs are tied at 51 seats each in the latest survey.
Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is projected to lose two seats, dropping to 18.
Gadi Eisenkot leads Benjamin Netanyahu in a hypothetical race for prime minister.
A majority of Israelis prefer a unity government if the upcoming election results in a tie.
The poll surveyed 700 Israelis between October 14-15 with a 3.7% margin of error.

Poll Shows Arab Parties at Record High, Coalition and Opposition Tied — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

A new poll indicates a significant shift in Israeli political standings, with Arab parties collectively reaching a record 14 seats. The Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, is projected to lose two seats, falling to 18. The survey, conducted by the Lazar Research Institute under Dr. Menachem Lazar in collaboration with Panel4ALL and published by "Maariv" newspaper, shows the governing coalition and the opposition bloc each securing 51 seats, resulting in a tie.

The poll attributes the rise of Arab parties to a one-seat increase for each, totaling 14 seats. Despite the Likud's decline, the coalition bloc's total only dropped by one seat to 51, bolstered by "Yahadut HaTorah" gaining 8 seats and "Amcha Israel" surpassing the electoral threshold with 4 seats. The opposition bloc saw a one-seat decrease to 51, mainly due to "Yisrael Beiteinu" falling to 8 seats.

"Reserve Soldiers and Economic" party is projected to win 4 seats, not aligning with either bloc, and its support would not guarantee a majority of 61 seats for either side. Several parties, including "Blue and White," "The Haredi Public," "Noam for Israel," and "Tzomet Beit Israel," are shown not to cross the electoral threshold. The percentage of undecided voters stands at 5.2%.

In a hypothetical race for prime minister, Gadi Eisenkot garnered 48% support compared to Benjamin Netanyahu's 41%. Against Naftali Bennett, both received 43% support. Netanyahu also trailed Avigdor Lieberman in another hypothetical matchup, with 43% to Lieberman's 37%.

Regarding voter sentiment, 79% of Israelis are optimistic about their chosen bloc winning, while 21% are pessimistic. Among coalition supporters, 90% are optimistic, compared to 75% of opposition supporters.

In the scenario of a tied election outcome, 55% of respondents favor forming a unity government, while 27% prefer new elections, and 18% are undecided. Opposition supporters are divided, with 54% willing to accept a unity government led by an "alternative bloc" leader. Coalition supporters are split, with 36% favoring a Netanyahu-led unity government and 32% preferring new elections if results are inconclusive. The poll surveyed 700 Israeli citizens aged 18 and over on October 14-15, with a margin of error of 3.7%.

The coverage