Bennett Struggles to Close Gap with Eisenkot as New Joint List Gains Momentum

Naftali Bennett, leader of the Yachdav party, continues to lose support, dropping another Knesset seat this week to Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yisrael party. The latest poll, conducted between Thursday and Monday, shows a five-seat gap between Eisenkot and Bennett, making it increasingly difficult for Bennett to reverse or even halt this trend. With elections still months away and party lists not finalized, analysts suggest Bennett and Yair Lapid face tough strategic decisions soon, including possibly proposing a merger with Eisenkot, though Eisenkot may prefer to maintain his lead.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party gains one seat in the poll, now holding 24 mandates, largely at the expense of Itamar Ben-Gvir’s National Security Minister faction. Public opinion favors Netanyahu’s recent agreement with Lebanon, with 46% viewing it as a success, despite initial political damage caused by the conflict in northern Israel. Opposition voters are more supportive of the Lebanon deal than Netanyahu’s own base, with 37% still undecided.

A new potential alliance between Benny Gantz, Yoaz Hendel, and Dedi Simchi, a party not yet officially formed, rises to six seats, up one from last week. This bloc draws support from both opposition and coalition voters, complicating the political landscape. Other figures like Gilad Erdan, who plans to run with Ayelet Shaked and others, and Hili Tropper, who recently left Gantz’s faction, could further reshape the center. Right-wing politician Ofer Winter might also enter the race, potentially drawing votes from this emerging center group.

Gantz recently expressed distrust toward Netanyahu’s calls for national unity, criticizing the exclusion of certain parties from such talks. The new alliance emphasizes shared leadership rather than a single leader, describing itself as a cooperative rather than a traditional party. The evolving political dynamics raise questions about whether this new bloc will push for a third election or act as a protest vote.

Overall, the poll shows the Zionist opposition with 58 seats versus the current coalition’s 52, with public opinion nearly evenly split on whether Netanyahu or Bennett is better suited to be prime minister. The political scene remains fluid, with key decisions expected in the coming weeks as parties prepare for the elections.