Poll shows Eisenkot, Netanyahu neck-and-neck as preferred PM choice

A new poll reveals a virtual tie between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot in Israelis' preferred choice for prime minister, with both garnering 38 percent support. This marks a shift from an earlier poll where Eisenkot held a more significant lead.

Despite the close race in personal preference, the broader political landscape remains largely unchanged. The poll suggests that the bloc opposing Netanyahu would secure 60 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, falling just short of the 61 needed for a majority. This outcome hinges on the participation of Arab parties, which traditionally do not join Israeli coalition governments.

Eisenkot's party, Yashar, is projected to be the largest in the Knesset with 23 seats, closely followed by Netanyahu's Likud with 22. Other parties, including Bennett's Together, the left-wing Democrats, and right-wing factions like Yisrael Beytenu, Shas, United Torah Judaism, and Otzma Yehudit, are also projected to win seats. A new center-right alliance between Yoaz Hendel and Chili Tropper, along with the Religious Zionism party, are expected to win the minimum four seats required to enter parliament.

When asked about their voting priorities, a significant portion of respondents cited the management of Israel's multi-front war (32%) and the cost of living and economy (25%) as key factors. Societal divisions (15%) and internal security (12%) also emerged as important considerations for voters.