Likud Surges to 30 Seats as Coalition Strengthens to 59 in New Poll

A new poll conducted by Direct Polls and published by i24NEWS on Thursday shows a strengthening of the Likud party ahead of Israel's 26th Knesset elections. According to the survey, the coalition parties collectively hold 59 seats, while the left-center bloc has 50 seats. Likud leads with 30 seats, up two from last week's i24NEWS poll.

The second-largest party is "Yisrael" led by Gadi Eizenkot, maintaining 23 seats with no change from the previous poll. The Democrats hold steady at 10 seats. Both Yisrael Beiteinu and United Torah Judaism receive 9 seats each, unchanged from last week. Shas retains 8 seats, while the "Together" party led by Naftali Bennett gains one seat to reach 8. Otzma Yehudit, headed by Itamar Ben-Gvir, loses one seat, dropping to 7.

Hadash-Ta'al loses two seats, falling to 6, while Religious Zionism and Ra'am each maintain 5 seats. Several parties, including Zehut, Beit Tziony, the Economic Party, and Ahdut, fail to cross the electoral threshold, as do Balad, Blue and White, and Noam LeIsrael. The Arab parties Hadash-Ta'al and Ra'am together hold 11 seats.

Overall, the coalition bloc's 59 seats indicate a solid position ahead of the elections, with the left-center bloc trailing at 50 seats. The poll reflects minor shifts among smaller parties but a general strengthening of the right-wing coalition.