Gadi Eizenkot's Party Leads with Double-Digit Advantage Over Netanyahu in New Poll

A recent poll published by Ma'ariv on August 13, 2026, shows Gadi Eizenkot's party, Yashar!, leading the Knesset race with 23 seats, surpassing the Likud party, which dropped to 21 seats. Naftali Bennett's party, Beyachad, also lost a seat, now holding 14. Eizenkot holds a significant double-digit lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in suitability for prime minister, with 49% favoring Eizenkot compared to 38% for Netanyahu, while 13% were undecided. This marks an increase from the previous poll where Eizenkot had 47% and Netanyahu 38%.

The Netanyahu coalition shrank by one seat to 48, while the Zionist opposition remains steady at 57 seats, with the Beit Tzioni party gaining four seats. Arab parties collectively strengthened to 11 seats. Several parties remain below the electoral threshold, including the new economic party led by Prof. Yaron Zelekha at 2.5%, Blue and White at 1.9%, and others. The undecided voter rate stands at 13.1%.

The poll also explored a scenario where Arab parties Hadash, Ta'al, and Balad unite, and Yoav Segalovich is placed second on the Ra'am list. In this case, the Joint Arab List would win eight seats, Ra'am six, totaling 14 Arab seats. Under this scenario, Yashar! would drop to 22 seats, Likud to 20, and Beyachad to 13. Netanyahu's coalition would decrease to 47 seats, the Zionist opposition to 55, with Beit Tzioni unchanged at four.

Additionally, the poll addressed Israeli public opinion on potential unilateral military action against Iran if the US signs a deal perceived as threatening. Sixty-five percent of respondents support Israel attacking Iran independently without US approval. Support is highest among coalition voters (84%) and third bloc voters (78%), with a majority (56%) of Zionist opposition voters also in favor. Twenty percent believe Israel should only attack with US consent, and 16% were unsure.