Religious Zionism Gains While Shas Loses Strength in New Israeli Poll

A recent poll conducted by the Kantar Institute for Kan Reshet B shows significant shifts in Israeli political party standings. The Shas party is losing support, dropping to seven seats, while the Religious Zionism party has strengthened, securing five seats and surpassing the electoral threshold. The poll indicates that if elections were held today, the "Yesh Atid" party would lead with 24 seats, followed closely by Likud with 23 seats.

Other parties include the "Yahad" alliance of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid with 14 seats, the Democrats with 10, Otzma Yehudit and Yisrael Beiteinu each with nine, United Torah Judaism with eight, Hadash-Ta'al with six, Ra'am with five, and Religious Zionism with five. Parties failing to cross the threshold include those led by Yoaz Hendel and Hili Tropper (2.9%), Balad (2.1%), the faction of Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein (1.6%), and Blue and White (1.4%).

The poll also reveals no clear majority for government formation: the current coalition bloc holds 52 seats, the opposition 57, and Arab parties 11. This fragmentation suggests continued political uncertainty ahead of the next elections.