Likud and Yisrael Equal in New Kantar Poll as Gadi Eizenkot Surpasses Netanyahu

A new poll conducted by Kantar and published by Kan News on July 5, 2026, shows a historic tie between the Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Yisrael party, led by Gadi Eizenkot, each receiving 23 seats in the Knesset. This marks the first time in the election cycle that these two parties are neck and neck. Meanwhile, the Yamina party, headed by Naftali Bennett, holds 16 seats, maintaining its position as the third-largest party.

Other parties include the Democratic Union, Otzma Yehudit, and Yisrael Beiteinu, each with 9 seats, with Avigdor Lieberman’s party gaining one seat compared to the previous poll. United Torah Judaism and Shas each have 8 seats, followed by Hadash-Ta'al with 6, Religious Zionism with 5, and Ra'am with 4 seats. Smaller parties such as the Reservists (2.3%), Blue and White (1.9%), and Balad failed to cross the electoral threshold.

The poll also highlights a significant shift in leadership preferences for prime minister. Eizenkot leads Netanyahu by a narrow margin, 41% to 40%, while Netanyahu holds a stronger lead over Bennett, 41% to 33%. Among coalition voters, 36% believe Ofer Winter should lead a new right-wing party, followed by Gilad Erdan (13%), Ayelet Shaked (7%), and Yuli Edelstein (6%).

In a hypothetical scenario where a new party formed by Edelstein, Shaked, and Erdan enters the race, it would secure 6 seats, drawing support away from Netanyahu, Eizenkot, Bennett, and Smotrich, reducing Netanyahu’s bloc to 50 seats. Currently, the anti-Netanyahu bloc leads with 67 seats compared to 53 for the current coalition.

The poll surveyed 2,589 individuals, with 553 respondents aged 18 and over participating via an internet sample that included the Arab sector. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.2%.