Netanyahu's Likud Gains as Bennett Hits New Low in Latest Israeli Poll

A recent poll conducted by Direct Polls for i24NEWS reveals significant shifts in Israeli political party standings amid ongoing political turbulence. Following the Lebanon agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call to expand the government, and public controversy over ultra-Orthodox draft evaders, the Likud party strengthens its position as the largest party, gaining two seats to reach 29 mandates.

Conversely, Gadi Eizenkot's Yisrael party declines by one seat to 19 mandates. The Democratic party rises by one seat to 11 mandates, while the Religious Zionist party loses one seat, barely surpassing the electoral threshold with four mandates. Other parties show relative stability: the Together party holds 11 mandates, Shas remains at nine, United Torah Judaism at eight, Otzma Yehudit at eight, and the Arab parties maintain their numbers with the Joint List at seven and Ra'am at five.

Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu drops one seat to nine mandates. The poll also highlights the coalition-opposition divide: Netanyahu's coalition bloc increases to 58 mandates, still short of the 61 needed for a majority, while the opposition without Arab parties holds 50 mandates. Arab parties collectively maintain 12 mandates.

This poll underscores the current political landscape's volatility and the challenges facing government formation in Israel.