Gadi Eizenkot Could Form 61-Seat Coalition Without Arab Parties, New Poll Shows

A recent Channel 13 poll reveals that for the first time, Gadi Eizenkot, leader of the Yisrael party, could form a coalition with 61 seats in the Knesset without relying on Arab parties. The poll shows Likud remains the largest party with 22 seats, while Eizenkot's bloc holds 21 seats. Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have stabilized their support at 15 seats. Yair Golan surprisingly gains 11 seats, and Avigdor Lieberman secures 10 seats, both reaching double digits. Newcomers Zvi Hauser and Yoaz Hendel pass the electoral threshold for the first time, completing the opposition coalition to reach 61 seats.

Within the right-wing bloc, United Torah Judaism holds 8 seats, Shas falls to 7, and Otzma Yehudit also drops to 7 seats. Bezalel Smotrich surges from near the threshold to 6 seats. Together, the right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties total only 50 seats. Arab parties collectively hold 9 seats, with Balad and Benny Gantz’s party failing to cross the electoral threshold.

This poll suggests a potential shift in coalition dynamics, with Eizenkot possibly leading a majority government without Arab party support. The results highlight fragmentation and changing strengths among Israel’s political factions ahead of upcoming elections.