Poll Shows Eisenkot's Party Leading Likud Ahead of Israeli Elections
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
A Channel 12 poll shows Gadi Eisenkot's Yishar party leading Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party with 23 seats to 21 ahead of Tuesday's Israeli elections. Prime Minister Netanyahu also announced plans to allocate an additional 400 billion shekels to defense to boost domestic arms production, citing the potential end of U.S. aid. Opposition figures criticized the budget expansion, warning of international isolation and economic crisis.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot's Yishar party leads Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party 23 seats to 21 in a final election poll.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu plans to allocate 400 billion shekels to boost domestic arms production.
- Netanyahu cited potential reductions in U.S. security aid as a reason for increased self-reliance.
- Opposition figures criticized Netanyahu's defense budget plan, warning of economic and international repercussions.
- Two parties, Amcha Yisrael and Economic Milkheim, are projected to fall below the electoral threshold.
A Channel 12 poll released Saturday indicates Gadi Eisenkot's Yishar party is leading Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party in the final survey before Tuesday's elections. The poll projects Yishar winning 23 Knesset seats, with Likud securing 21, an increase of two seats from the previous poll. Naftali Bennett's Together party is projected to get 15 seats, and the Democrats 10.
The survey suggests that the current government coalition parties would collectively win 50 seats, while the opposition "Change Camp" parties would secure 56 seats. Arab parties are projected to win 14 seats.
In a head-to-head question for prime minister, Eisenkot garnered 44% support compared to Netanyahu's 38%. Bennett and Netanyahu each received 39% in a separate direct comparison.
The poll also showed that Opher Winter's Amcha Yisrael party and Yoaz Hendel's Economic Milkheim list are not expected to pass the electoral threshold, receiving 2.5% and 2.4% respectively.
Separately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a plan to boost domestic arms production, stating that U.S. security aid would not last forever. He plans to allocate an additional 400 billion shekels to the defense budget over the coming years to expand ammunition and weapons manufacturing in Israel.
Netanyahu defended the budget expansion, arguing that security is essential for economic stability. However, his remarks drew criticism from opposition figures. Shaul Mador, a former head of the budget division in the Ministry of Finance and a Yishar list candidate, accused Netanyahu's policies of isolating Israel internationally and risking economic crisis. Knesset Member Oded Forer of the Yisrael Beiteinu party also criticized the government's direction on this matter.
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