Israeli Public Prefers Opposition Candidate Over Netanyahu for Prime Minister, Survey Shows

A recent political survey published by 'Ulpan Shishi' on July 25, 2026, reveals that nearly 60% of the Israeli public favors a candidate other than incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to lead the country in the upcoming elections. The poll indicates a slight decline in support for both Netanyahu's bloc and the opposition compared to the previous week, with 5% of respondents intending to vote for parties outside any bloc.

The survey evaluated public opinion on the three main candidates for prime minister: Netanyahu, Gadi Eizenkot, and Naftali Bennett. Respondents rated them on a scale of 1 to 10 across various categories including integrity and trustworthiness, prioritizing the country's welfare over personal interests, handling of security and economic issues, and confidence in sending their children to serve under their leadership. Eizenkot led in most categories, scoring an average of 6.1 for integrity and trustworthiness, while Netanyahu received the lowest average scores overall.

Regarding suitability for prime minister, 33% of the total sample viewed Netanyahu as the best candidate, whereas 59% disagreed. Among opposition voters, 93% preferred a non-Netanyahu candidate, while 86% of coalition voters supported Netanyahu. This marks a decline from last week's 37% support for Netanyahu as the most suitable candidate.

In terms of voting intentions, 46% plan to vote for parties in the anti-Netanyahu bloc, including 7% for Arab parties, 34% for Netanyahu's bloc, and 5% for parties unaffiliated with any bloc. The percentage of undecided voters rose from 12% to 15%.

The survey also explored the impact of recent Democratic primaries led by Yair Golan, finding that 12% of opposition voters felt the candidate list increased their likelihood to vote for the party, while 4% said it decreased their likelihood, and 19% said it had no effect.

Additionally, the poll examined Likud voters' reactions to the possible inclusion of former footballer Eli Ohana on the party list. Ten percent said Ohana's presence would increase their likelihood to vote for Likud, 8% said it would decrease it, and 32% said it would have no impact.