Poll Shows Joint List Rising to 9 Seats Ahead of Elections

A Channel 12 poll released Monday evening indicates the Joint List, led by Yousef Jabareen, would gain 9 seats in the upcoming Knesset elections. The United Arab List, headed by Mansour Abbas, is projected to secure 5 seats, bringing the combined total for both lists to 14. The survey, conducted eight days before the 26th Knesset elections, marks the first time the Joint List has reached 9 seats in polls. Meanwhile, the "Reservists-Economic" list, led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelicha, fell below the electoral threshold with 2.1% of the vote, having previously surpassed it.

The "Yashar" list, headed by Gadi Eisenkot, led the poll with 24 seats, one more than in the previous survey. The Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, followed with 21 seats, and Naftali Bennett's "Together" list garnered 14 seats. Yair Golan's "Democrats" party maintained 9 seats, matching the Joint List. Shas, Yisrael Beiteinu, and Otzma Yehudit each received 8 seats, while Yahadut HaTorah and Bezalel Smotrich's "Religious Zionism-Identity" list secured 7 seats each.

Smaller lists struggled, with Ofer Winter's "Our Nation Israel" list failing to cross the threshold for the third consecutive time, receiving 2.8% of the vote. The "Reservists-Economic" list also dropped below the threshold with 2.1%. Benny Gantz's "Blue and White" party received 1.4%, though the party announced its withdrawal from the race after the poll was conducted. Moti Leitner's "Haredi Public" list received 0.2%.

The poll also analyzed the political blocs. The bloc opposing Netanyahu gained two seats compared to the previous poll, reaching 69 seats, comprising 55 Zionist seats and 14 Arab seats. Conversely, the current coalition's representation increased by two seats to 51. The "third bloc" described in the poll effectively disappeared as Hendel and Zelicha's lists fell below the threshold.

In terms of preferred leadership, Gadi Eisenkot was favored by 45% of respondents as the most suitable candidate for prime minister, compared to 33% for Netanyahu, widening the gap to 12 percentage points. Naftali Bennett received 39% support against Netanyahu's 34%, with 22% believing neither was suitable. Netanyahu led Avigdor Lieberman 35% to 28% in another comparison.

The survey also explored voter reactions to recent political statements and events. Regarding comments by Yinnon Magal of Channel 14, who called Eisenkot a "monkey" controlled by Ashkenazi elites, 22% stated the remarks increased their likelihood of voting for parties opposing Netanyahu, while 8% said it boosted their support for Netanyahu's bloc. 55% reported no change in their voting intentions.

Concerning new information about Netanyahu advisor Yonatan Uriah's relations with Qatari officials after the war's outbreak, 26% said this information strengthened their inclination to vote for parties opposing Netanyahu, compared to 5% who felt it bolstered support for Netanyahu's bloc. 55% believed it would not affect their vote.

Regarding former US President Donald Trump's public support for Netanyahu, 12% stated it increased their support for Likud, while 17% said it weakened their likelihood of voting for the party. 64% indicated it would not influence their decision.

On voter turnout, 72% of respondents intend to vote, with 74% among coalition voters and 81% among opposition voters. The intention to vote was 75% among Jewish respondents and 60% among Arab respondents.