Eisenkot's Party Surges, Ties Netanyahu's Likud in New Israeli Poll

Former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot's political party, Yashar, has seen a dramatic rise in recent polls, now challenging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud for the top spot. A poll by Zman Yisrael indicates that if elections were held today, both Yashar and Likud would each win 23 of the Knesset's 120 seats.

This result marks a significant gain for Yashar, up two seats from the previous week, while Likud has dropped one seat. The broader opposition bloc, which includes Yashar and Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid's Together party, would collectively win 19 seats, down two from last week. However, this opposition alliance still falls short by one seat of forming a governing coalition without the support of either Netanyahu's bloc or Arab parties.

Netanyahu's bloc, comprising parties like Shas, Otzma Yehudit, and United Torah Judaism, would secure 50 seats. The Zionist opposition, including Yisrael Beytenu and Democrats, holds 18 seats, while Arab parties collectively claim 10 seats. Notably, unlike Bennett, Eisenkot has not ruled out the possibility of forming a government with support from Arab parties, a stance that could be pivotal in coalition negotiations.

Further complicating the political landscape, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party failed to pass the electoral threshold for the second consecutive week. The poll also explored potential mergers, suggesting a Yashar and Together alliance could win 40 seats, but this would still leave the Zionist opposition short of a majority. The dynamics highlight the fragmented nature of Israeli politics and the complex calculations involved in forming a stable government.