New Poll Shows Major Israeli Parties Gaining, Far-Right Factions Below Threshold
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
A Channel 12 poll released October 26, 2026, shows Gadi Eisenkot's Yishar party leading with 24 mandates, followed by Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud with 21. Parties led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zlicha have fallen below the electoral threshold. Eisenkot is also widening his lead over Netanyahu in suitability for prime minister. The poll surveyed 507 respondents and has a maximum margin of error of 4.4%.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot's Yishar party leads a new poll with 24 mandates, ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud with 21.
- Parties led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zlicha have fallen below the electoral threshold for the first time in over a month.
- Gadi Eisenkot is widening his lead over Benjamin Netanyahu in suitability for prime minister, with 45% to 33%.
- The bloc opposing Netanyahu is projected to gain two mandates, reaching a total of 69 mandates.
- Naftali Bennett's Together party is projected to strengthen to 14 mandates.
- 72% of respondents indicated their intention to vote if elections were held today.
A new poll released by Channel 12 News indicates that if elections were held today, the Yishar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, would emerge as the largest party with 24 mandates. The Likud party, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, is projected to gain seats, securing 21 mandates, while Naftali Bennett's Together party would strengthen to 14 mandates.
The poll also shows the Joint List, led by Yosef Jabareen, increasing its support to 9 mandates, matching Yair Golan's Democrats. Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, and Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu are both projected to receive 8 mandates, as is Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit. United Torah Judaism, led by Yaakov Asher, and Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism and Identity list are each expected to win 7 mandates, with Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, securing 5.
Notably, for the first time in over a month, the parties led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zlicha are projected to fall below the electoral threshold. The Am Israel party, led by Ofer Winter, also remains below the threshold for the third consecutive poll. Benny Gantz's Blue and White party, which has since withdrawn from the election, is also shown below the threshold.
The poll suggests a shift in the bloc dynamics, with the bloc opposing Netanyahu gaining two mandates to reach 69 mandates. The coalition bloc is projected to strengthen to 51 mandates, and the "third bloc" is dissolving as Hendel and Zlicha's parties fall below the threshold.
In head-to-head matchups for prime minister, Eisenkot is widening his lead over Netanyahu, with 45% preferring Eisenkot compared to Netanyahu's 33%. Bennett also shows increased support against Netanyahu, with 39% favoring Bennett for prime minister versus 34% for Netanyahu. The poll also explored the impact of public statements by Yinon Magal, revelations about Yonatan Urich's contacts with Qatar, and Donald Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu on voter intentions, with a majority of respondents indicating these factors would not influence their vote.
Overall, 72% of respondents indicated their intention to vote if elections were held today, with higher turnout expected among opposition supporters and across various demographic groups, with the exception of Arab voters.
Mentioned
