New Poll Shows Netanyahu's Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu Tied at 23 Seats Each

A new mandate poll published on Wednesday evening by Channel 13 News reveals a dramatic and closely contested political landscape in Israel. The ruling Likud party and the Yisrael Beiteinu faction are tied at 23 seats each, indicating a significant shift in voter support. The third-largest faction is Yachad with 13 seats, followed by Yisrael Beiteinu securing 10 seats.

Among medium and smaller parties, the Democrats and United Torah Judaism each hold 9 seats, Otzma Yehudit has 8 seats, and Shas holds 7 seats. At the lower end of the spectrum, Ra'am and the Troper-Hendel alliance each receive 5 seats, while Hadash-Ta'al and Religious Zionism barely cross the electoral threshold with 4 seats apiece.

The poll also highlights a clear advantage for the opposition bloc, which commands 60 seats compared to the coalition's 51 seats. Arab parties Ra'am and Hadash-Ta'al together hold 9 seats. This distribution suggests a challenging political environment for the current government if elections were held today.