Poll Shows Majority Prefer Non-Netanyahu Candidate for Prime Minister

A recent Channel 12 poll reveals a decline in support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a rise in backing for Gadi Eisenkot as a preferred candidate for prime minister. The poll indicates that 46% of respondents intend to vote for parties opposing Netanyahu, including 7% for an Arab party, while 34% support parties aligned with Netanyahu. Additionally, 5% plan to vote for parties unaffiliated with either bloc, and 15% remain undecided, an increase from previous weeks.

Regarding suitability for the prime minister role, 59% of the public favor a candidate other than Netanyahu, with only 33% viewing Netanyahu as the best fit, down from 37% last week. Among opposition voters, 93% support an alternative candidate, whereas 86% of coalition voters back Netanyahu.

In personal ratings on a scale of 1 to 10, Eisenkot leads with the highest average scores across several criteria, followed by Naftali Bennett, with Netanyahu receiving the lowest. Eisenkot scored 6.1 for integrity and trustworthiness, Bennett 4.5, and Netanyahu 3.9. On the question of confidence in sending children to serve under their leadership, Eisenkot scored 5.5, Bennett 4.5, and Netanyahu 4.1. For prioritizing the country's interests over personal ones, Eisenkot received 5.9, Bennett 4.8, and Netanyahu 4.2. The only near tie was in decision-making under pressure, with Eisenkot at 5.5 and Netanyahu at 5.4, while Bennett scored 4.5.

The poll also examined the impact of the Democratic Party's candidate list led by Yair Golan after their primaries. Twelve percent of opposition voters said the list increases their likelihood to vote for the party, 4% said it decreases their likelihood, and 19% said it has no effect. Regarding the potential inclusion of Eli Ohana in Likud, 10% said it would increase their likelihood to vote for Likud, 8% said it would decrease it, and 32% said it would not affect their decision.