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

A recent political survey conducted by "Ulpan Shishi" reveals that nearly 60% of the Israeli public supports a candidate other than incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the upcoming elections. The poll, published on July 25, 2026, indicates a slight decline in voter intention for both Netanyahu's bloc and the opposition bloc, with 5% of respondents planning to vote for parties outside any bloc.

The survey evaluated public opinion on the three main candidates for prime minister: Benjamin Netanyahu, Gadi Eizenkot, and Naftali Bennett. Respondents rated each candidate on a scale of 1 to 10 across various criteria, including integrity and credibility, prioritizing the country's welfare over personal interests, handling of security and economy, and the confidence to send their children to serve in the military under their leadership. Gadi Eizenkot led in most categories, scoring an average of 6.1 for integrity and credibility, compared to Bennett's 4.5 and Netanyahu's 3.9. Eizenkot also scored highest in perceived care for the country (5.9) and decision-making under pressure (5.5).

Regarding suitability for prime minister, only 33% of the total sample viewed Netanyahu as the best candidate, while 59% preferred someone else. Among opposition voters, 93% favored a non-Netanyahu candidate, whereas 86% of coalition voters supported Netanyahu. This marks a decline from the previous week's poll, where 37% favored Netanyahu.

The survey also showed that 46% intend to vote for parties in the anti-Netanyahu bloc, including 7% for Arab parties, while 34% support Netanyahu's bloc. The percentage of undecided voters rose from 12% to 15%.

Additionally, the poll 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% felt it decreased their chances.

Regarding Likud voters' views on reserving a spot for former footballer Eli Ohana on the party list, 10% said his inclusion would strengthen their support, 8% said it would weaken it, and 32% said it would have no effect.