New Poll Shows Yisrael Beiteinu Surges, Bennett Gains, Netanyahu and Others Lose Ground

A new poll by the Midgam Institute, led by Manu Geva, published on Monday by Channel 12 News, reveals significant shifts in Israel's political landscape. The Yisrael Beiteinu party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, strengthens by one seat to 24 mandates, overtaking the Likud party, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which drops to 22 mandates. Naftali Bennett's party, Yachad, reverses a prior downward trend and gains one seat to reach 15 mandates.

Among the ultra-Orthodox parties, United Torah Judaism remains stable with 8 mandates, while Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, holds 7 mandates. The Democrats, under Yair Golan, rise to 11 mandates, and Yisrael Beiteinu, led by Avigdor Lieberman, secures 10 mandates. Otzma Yehudit, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, increases to 8 mandates, and Religious Zionism, headed by Bezalel Smotrich, maintains 5 mandates. Arab sector parties Hadash-Ta'al and Ra'am each receive 5 mandates.

Several parties fall below the electoral threshold, including Beit Tziony with 2.7%, Balad with 1.6%, the right-wing party led by Gilad Erdan with 1.3%, and Blue and White under Benny Gantz with 0.8%. The anti-Netanyahu bloc holds 70 mandates, comprising 60 from Zionist opposition parties and 10 from Arab parties, while Netanyahu's coalition commands only 50 mandates.

Regarding the preferred prime minister, Eisenkot leads with 40% compared to Netanyahu's 35%, with 19% rejecting both candidates. In a direct comparison between Netanyahu and Bennett, Bennett leads with 37% against Netanyahu's 35%. Netanyahu leads over Lieberman with 38% to 24%, though 34% find neither suitable for the role.