Gaza Herald – Two opinion polls published Monday evening reveal that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp nor the opposition holds a sufficient parliamentary majority to form the next government, less than a week before the Knesset elections. The Arab lists secured between 14 and 15 seats, while most respondents favored new elections if a government cannot be formed.
According to Channel 13, Gantz’s Yesh Atid party led seat distribution with 20 seats, surpassing Netanyahu’s Likud, which obtained 18 seats. Naftali Bennett’s Yamina party rose to 14 seats, up from 12 in previous surveys. The Joint List and Yair Lapid’s Democrats each received nine seats, while Avigdor Lieberman’s Israel Beiteinu gained eight seats.
In Netanyahu’s camp, Shas, United Torah Judaism, and Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit each won seven seats. The Religious Zionism–Zehut list, led by Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin, also secured seven seats. The Unified Arab List received six seats, while the Reserve Soldiers–Economic and Am Yisrael lists each obtained four seats.
On a bloc level, the Zionist opposition was granted 51 seats against 50 for Netanyahu’s camp. The two Arab lists held 15 seats, alongside four seats for the Reserve Soldiers–Economic list, which was counted outside both camps. A separate poll by Channel 12 showed Yesh Atid with 24 seats versus 21 for Likud. Yamina retained 14 seats, while the Joint List and Democrats each held nine.
Channel 12 data indicated Israel Beiteinu, Shas, and Otzma Yehudit each received eight seats, compared to seven for United Torah Judaism and Religious Zionism–Zehut. The Unified Arab List gained five seats. The Zionist opposition held 55 seats against 51 for Netanyahu, with no bloc reaching the 61-seat threshold. Small parties crossed the threshold in Channel 13 but not in Channel 12.
Regarding leadership, Channel 13 showed Gantz preferred by 46 percent versus 38 percent for Netanyahu. Channel 12 recorded similar results, with 45 percent favoring Gantz and 33 percent Netanyahu. In a hypothetical matchup, Bennett led Netanyahu 39 percent to 34 percent, while Netanyahu led Lieberman 35 percent to 28 percent.
On government shape, 33 percent favored a unity government, 31 percent supported a right-wing cabinet, and 23 percent wanted an opposition-led government. If formation fails, 52 percent backed new elections, while 32 percent preferred alternating power between Gantz and Netanyahu. Forty-seven percent distrust motives for pre-election war decisions, citing political interests.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
