Israel poll: Eisenkot's Yashar ties Netanyahu's Likud as opposition eyes Knesset majority

A recent Maariv poll suggests a significant shift in Israel's political landscape, with Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party now tied with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud at 21 seats. This development, occurring since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, indicates growing voter dissatisfaction with the current government.

The poll further indicates that the opposition bloc, excluding Arab parties, could secure a majority of 61 seats in the Knesset, while the current coalition would hold only 49. Even with Smotrich's Religious Zionism party expected to pass the electoral threshold, the coalition appears to lack sufficient support.

Since the outbreak of war with Iran, Likud has seen a decline, losing seven seats. Simultaneously, the combined party of former prime minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid, known as Together, has lost eleven seats since its merger in late April. Yesh Atid, however, has gained nine seats.

Interestingly, the poll found that a potential union between Yashar and Together under Eisenkot's leadership would yield 37 seats. This is four fewer seats than they are predicted to win if they run separately. Furthermore, unifying under Eisenkot is expected to result in four more seats than if they were to unify under Bennett's leadership. The survey also revealed that 49% of Israelis are concerned about the rift between Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, while 43% are not.

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The poll suggests growing voter dissatisfaction with both Likud and Bennett's alliance, with Eisenkot's Yashar emerging as a major beneficiary and the opposition regaining a potential majority.