Internal Poll Shows Trooper and Handel’s New Party at 5.5 Seats, Democrats Eye Potential Cooperation

An internal poll commissioned by the Democratic Party, led by Yair Golan, offers a rare glimpse into the standing of the new centrist-right party "Beit Tzioni," headed by Hili Trooper and Yoaz Handel. Conducted by Lazar Research under Dr. Menachem Lazar, the survey was limited to non-Haredi Jewish voters, excluding Arab and Haredi populations, which significantly affects the representation of certain parties.

According to the poll, Gadi Eizenkot’s party leads with approximately 23.4 seats, followed by Likud with 21.4, Naftali Bennett’s party with 16.9, and Yair Golan’s Democrats with 8.8 seats. Trooper and Handel’s Beit Tzioni is projected to secure about 5.5 seats, surpassing the electoral threshold but with a still fluid voter base; only 8.5% of respondents are certain to vote for them, while about a quarter are potential supporters. The party’s strongest support comes from religious voters and those over 60, with weaker appeal among younger and secular demographics.

The poll also explored voter behavior if Beit Tzioni did not run, revealing that 23.5% of its supporters would shift to Eizenkot, with Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman each gaining 15.1%, and Likud only 13.3%. This suggests Beit Tzioni’s electorate is more aligned with center and center-right parties than directly with Likud. Interestingly, among Beit Tzioni supporters, Likud is seen as the most legitimate coalition partner (60%), followed by Otzma Yehudit (48%) and Religious Zionism (45%), while the Democrats receive only 38% legitimacy.

A significant finding concerns Yair Golan himself: scenarios involving cooperation with him receive mixed support, with 44% in favor and 49% opposed, and opposition grows with more integrated partnerships. In contrast, Itamar Ben-Gvir enjoys higher support among Beit Tzioni voters for government participation under various conditions.

The report goes beyond polling, recommending strategic messaging for potential cooperation with Golan, emphasizing shared military backgrounds, strict foundational conditions, and framing the alliance as a means to avoid early elections rather than an ideological pact. The existence of this poll indicates the Democrats’ keen interest in mapping Beit Tzioni’s electorate and exploring future political collaborations, viewing the party as a potential parliamentary player with about 5.5 seats but cautious about direct ties with Golan.