New Poll Shows Opposition Bloc Edging Netanyahu, Arab Parties Garner 14 Seats

A new public opinion poll in Israel indicates that the opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot of the 'Yashar' party, holds a slight lead over Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's camp. The survey, published by Israel Hayom, suggests that anti-Netanyahu parties would secure 52 seats, compared to 50 for the Prime Minister's bloc. An additional four seats are projected for the Hendl-Zalicha alliance, whose alignment remains undecided.

Within the Arab political representation, the two lists are expected to win a combined 14 seats, with the Joint List obtaining 9 and the United List receiving 5. Individually, Gadi Eisenkot's 'Yashar' party is projected to win 23 seats, two more than the Likud party. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and current Opposition Leader Yair Lapid's joint 'B'Yachad' alliance is polling at 14 seats, Bennett's highest figure in recent surveys.

Other projected seat allocations include: 'Yashar' 23, Likud 21, 'B'Yachad' 14, Joint List 8, 'Otzma Yehudit' 8, 'Democrats' (Labor-Meretz alliance) 8, 'Shas' 8, 'Yisrael Beiteinu' 7, 'United Torah Judaism' 7, 'Religious Zionism' 6, United List 5, and Hendl-Zalicha alliance 4.

When asked about the most critical issue influencing their vote, 26% of respondents cited personal and national security, and the war, while 23% prioritized the cost of living and the economic situation. Other significant concerns included preserving democracy and the rule of law (12%), Haredi conscription and burden sharing (9%), establishing an investigative committee into the October 7th attack (8%), the state's Jewish identity (8%), and judicial reform (7%).

The poll revealed a divergence in priorities between government coalition and opposition voters. Coalition supporters predominantly focused on security (37%), followed by Jewish identity (20%) and judicial reform (16%). Opposition voters, however, ranked the cost of living as their top concern (28%), followed by democracy and the rule of law (18%), Haredi conscription (17%), and the October 7th committee (16%).

Regarding voter turnout, 70% of respondents expressed certainty they would vote, with an additional 19% believing they would. Voter loyalty appears low, with only 30% intending to vote for the same party as in the previous election. A significant 37% plan to switch parties within their current bloc, and 9% are considering moving between blocs. The survey was conducted by the Kantar Institute between October 21-22, 2026, polling 1,110 individuals out of 4,675 participants, with a margin of error of ±3.0%." ], "summary": "A new poll shows Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc leading Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's camp by two seats, with Arab parties collectively projected to win 14 seats. Security concerns are paramount for government supporters, while economic issues dominate opposition voter priorities. Voter loyalty is low, with many planning to switch parties or blocs. The survey was conducted by the Kantar Institute from October 21-22, 2026.