Gadi Eizenkot Surges Past Naftali Bennett in Opposition Leadership Polls

A recent Maariv poll reveals a significant shift in the Israeli opposition landscape, with Gadi Eizenkot surpassing Naftali Bennett as the leading figure in the race for prime minister. Eizenkot's party, "Yashar!", now leads with 22 mandates, overtaking the Likud for the first time since its establishment. This rise has accelerated since Bennett's alliance with Yair Lapid in April, a move originally intended to strengthen Bennett's position but which instead boosted Eizenkot's standing.

The poll examined various coalition scenarios, showing that a joint list of Bennett's "Together" and Eizenkot's "Yashar!" parties yields better results when Eizenkot leads. Under Eizenkot's leadership, the alliance could secure 39 mandates, four more than if Bennett were at the helm. This dynamic challenges Bennett's core political claim of being the most viable leader to defeat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In terms of suitability for prime minister, Eizenkot holds a clear advantage with 38% support compared to Bennett's 24%, a gap that has widened since late June. This preference spans across political groups, indicating broad appeal. Political analyst Moshe Cohen suggests that if Bennett does not accept Eizenkot's leadership, Lapid might shift his support to Eizenkot, further consolidating his position.

The poll also explored voter loyalty within the Likud party, revealing that if Netanyahu were to leave and form a new party, 43% of Likud voters would follow him, while 20% would remain loyal to Likud. Notably, nearly 12% would switch to Eizenkot, compared to smaller percentages for other figures like Avigdor Lieberman and Bennett-Lapid's alliance. This indicates Eizenkot's growing appeal even among right-wing voters.

Netanyahu appears to recognize this trend and may tacitly encourage it, viewing Eizenkot as a more manageable opponent than Bennett, who competes directly for the right-wing electorate. The poll marks a critical moment, suggesting a potential leadership change within the opposition, with Eizenkot gaining momentum as Bennett faces a new political reality.