Poll Puts Eisenkot Ahead of Bennett in Opposition Leadership Race

A new N12 survey aired on Friday examines the internal fight inside the anti-Netanyahu bloc in the 2026 election, asking whether Naftali Bennett or Gadi Eisenkot is better placed to lead the camp and attract Likud voters. The poll, conducted by Meno Geva with the Midgam institute for "Ulpan Shishi," found that Eisenkot leads Bennett on suitability for prime minister, both among the general public and among opposition voters.

Among all respondents, 33% said Eisenkot is more suitable to be prime minister, compared with 21% for Bennett. Another 38% said neither man is suitable, a result the broadcast said matches the size of the Netanyahu camp. Among voters who intend to support one of the change-party list, the lead for Eisenkot over Bennett widens to 10 percentage points. In a separate question, 52% of opposition voters said that if Bennett and Eisenkot run together, Eisenkot should head the slate, while 34% chose Bennett.

The poll also tested attitudes toward a joint run by Bennett, Yair Lapid and Eisenkot. Forty-four percent of opposition voters said the three should run together, while 37% preferred separate runs. When asked why no alliance has formed, 23% blamed ideological differences, 21% blamed Bennett’s ego and 15% blamed Eisenkot’s ego, while 41% said they did not know.

On the question of a future return to a Netanyahu government, 34% think Bennett is more likely to join one, versus 19% for Eisenkot. Almost half of respondents said either that neither would do so or that they did not know. Among Netanyahu bloc voters, only 6% said they might switch sides if a joint Bennett-Eisenkot list formed, while 93% said they would not. The poll also showed 10% of Likud voters saying Tali Gottlieb hurts the party and should not be on the list, followed by Dudi Amsalem at 9%, Miri Regev at 6%, and other figures lower. In a question on a plea deal that would cancel Benjamin Netanyahu’s trial and end his political career, 39% supported it and 44% opposed it. The broader polling average gives Likud 23 seats, the opposition 59, and the blocs 59 for the opposition, 51 for the coalition, with Arab parties holding 10 seats.