Gadi Eizenkot Leads in One Poll, Netanyahu Tops Another Ahead of Israeli Elections

Two recent Israeli Knesset polls reveal contrasting political landscapes and highlight the ongoing volatility ahead of the elections. According to a Channel 13 News poll, Gadi Eizenkot's "Yashar" party leads with 24 seats, a slight drop from the previous poll, while Likud, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, falls to 19 seats from 23. Other notable results include Naftali Bennett's 13 seats, Yair Golan's Democrats at 11, the Joint Arab List with 10, and Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu at 9. Otzma Yehudit, Yahadut HaTorah, and Shas each receive 8 seats, with Religious Zionism and Mansour Abbas's Ra'am at 5 seats each. Ofer Winter's "Amcha Israel" party fails to cross the electoral threshold, as do parties led by Trooper, Handel, Blue and White, Feiglin, and Ardan. The opposition bloc under Eizenkot totals 57 seats, surpassing Netanyahu's coalition bloc at 48, while Arab parties collectively hold 15 seats.

In contrast, an i24NEWS poll conducted by Direct Polls places Likud first with 26 seats, followed by Eizenkot's "Yashar" at 23. The Democrats have 10 seats, Yisrael Beiteinu and "Amcha Israel" each have 8 seats, Yahadut HaTorah and "Together" also have 8, Shas has 7, Otzma Yehudit and Ra'am each have 6, the Joint List 6, and Religious Zionism 4. Notably, "Amcha Israel" crosses the threshold here with 8 seats, unlike in the Channel 13 poll.

These divergent poll results underscore the fluidity of voter preferences and the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming elections. The differences in support for key parties, especially for Eizenkot's and Netanyahu's blocs and Winter's party, suggest a highly competitive race with no clear front-runner. The final election outcomes will be closely watched as the political map remains unsettled.