Gadi Eizenkot Surpasses Netanyahu in New Israeli Poll as Right-Wing Bloc Declines

A recent i24NEWS poll conducted by Direct Polls reveals significant shifts in Israeli political dynamics amid ongoing legislative turmoil in the Knesset. The right-wing bloc experiences a slight decline, with the current coalition holding 58 seats, down by one from the previous week, while the opposition bloc, including Arab parties, gains one seat to reach a majority of 62.

Likud, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, remains the largest party with 28 seats. However, the newly formed Yesh Atid party, headed by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, solidifies its position as the leading center-left force with 22 seats. The Democrats party follows with 11 seats, and the Together party and Shas each hold 9 seats. Israel Beytenu and United Torah Judaism maintain 8 seats apiece. Otzma Yehudit, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, and the Joint List, including Balad, each secure 7 seats. The Religious Zionist Party, under Bezalel Smotrich, has 6 seats, and Ra'am rounds out the list with 5 seats.

Potential party mergers, such as those involving Benny Gantz and Alon Schami or Hili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel, fail to surpass the electoral threshold, along with the Economic Party and Zehut.

The most notable finding concerns suitability for prime minister: Gadi Eizenkot leads with 47% public support, narrowly surpassing Netanyahu's 44%. This marks a rare instance of the former military chief overtaking the incumbent prime minister in public preference.

These results underscore a shifting political landscape as Israel approaches future elections, with the opposition bloc gaining momentum and Eizenkot emerging as a significant contender for leadership.