Religious Zionism Surges as Shas Declines in Latest Israeli Election Poll

A Channel 13 news poll released on Wednesday evening reveals significant shifts in party standings ahead of potential Israeli elections. The Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, remains the largest faction in the Knesset with 22 seats. The newly formed party "Yashar!" under Gadi Eizenkot drops by two seats to 21. The "Together" party, headed by Naftali Bennett, secures 15 seats, while the Democrats led by Yair Golan gain 11 seats. Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu holds 10 seats.

Religious parties show notable changes: Shas falls to seven seats, while Otzma Yehudit also holds seven. The United Torah Judaism party maintains eight seats. The Religious Zionism party experiences a surge, rising to six seats. Other parties include Hadash-Ta'al with five seats, Ra'am with four, and the Hendel-Troper list surpassing the electoral threshold for the first time with four seats. Both Balad and Blue and White, led by Benny Gantz, fail to cross the threshold.

The opposition bloc, including the Hendel-Troper list, reaches 61 seats, outnumbering Netanyahu's coalition bloc, which stands at 50 seats. This poll indicates a fragmented political landscape with shifting alliances and emerging parties influencing the balance of power in the Knesset.