Gadi Eizenkot's Yashar Party Leads Over Netanyahu's Likud in New Israeli Poll

A new election poll published by Kan News on August 23, 2026, shows Gadi Eizenkot's Yashar party leading with 24 Knesset seats, ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud, which holds 22 seats. The poll also reveals that Eizenkot is viewed as more suitable for prime minister than Netanyahu, with 41% favoring Eizenkot compared to 35% for Netanyahu. For the first time, Netanyahu also trails Naftali Bennett, leader of the Yachad party, who received 37% versus Netanyahu's 36% on this question. Bennett's party remains stable at 14 seats.

Right-wing leader Ofer Winter's party fails to cross the electoral threshold with 2.5% support, but if Winter runs alongside journalist Natali Shem Tov, spokesperson Yosef Hadad, and bereaved mother Lali Deri, his party could secure five seats, potentially pushing Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party below the threshold. Netanyahu's bloc slightly weakens from 52 to 51 seats, while the Arab parties' bloc grows to 12 seats due to the unification of Hadash-Ta'al and Balad. Eizenkot's bloc holds steady at 57 seats.

New center-right parties "The Zionist Home - Reservists" led by Hili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel (2.8%) and "The Unity" led by Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein (1.6%) do not pass the threshold, nor does Benny Gantz's Blue and White party (1.8%).

Regarding the recent chaos at Ben Gurion Airport, 43% of respondents blame the Airport Authority workers' union, while 33% blame the government. Transport Minister Miri Regev received a predominantly negative performance rating, with 70% of all respondents giving her a poor score. Among Likud voters, 43% rated her negatively compared to 41% positively.

The poll was conducted online by Kantar with 552 respondents aged 18 and over from a sample of 2,685, including the Arab sector, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2%.