Gadi Eizenkot Matches Netanyahu's Party in Poll and Leads in Prime Minister Suitability

A new poll by Kan News reveals a historic tie between Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and Gadi Eizenkot's Yashar party, each securing 23 Knesset seats. This marks the first time in the election cycle that these two parties are neck and neck. Meanwhile, Naftali Bennett's Yachad party remains the third largest with 16 seats, trailing behind Eizenkot's party, which has expanded its lead over Bennett.

Other parties include the Democrats, 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 both hold 8 seats, followed by Hadash-Ta'al with 6, Religious Zionism with 5, and Ra'am with 4. Smaller parties such as the Reservists (2.3%), Blue and White (1.9%), and Balad failed to pass the electoral threshold.

The current coalition bloc holds 53 seats, while the anti-Netanyahu bloc commands 67. A hypothetical new party formed by Yuli Edelstein, Ayelet Shaked, and Gilad Erdan could win 6 seats, drawing support from Netanyahu, Eizenkot, Bennett, and Smotrich, reducing Netanyahu's bloc to 50 seats.

Regarding suitability for prime minister, Eizenkot leads Netanyahu with 41% to 40%. However, Netanyahu outperforms Bennett, receiving 41% compared to Bennett's 33%. Among right-wing voters, 36% favor Ofer Winter as leader of a new right-wing party, followed by Gilad Erdan (13%), Ayelet Shaked (7%), and Yuli Edelstein (6%).