Netanyahu, Gantz remain neck-in-neck 9 days before Israeli elections: poll
For the first time in this election cycle, far-right Jewish Power passes the 3.25% threshold with 4 seats
A new i24NEWS/Israel Hayom poll released on Sunday found that if elections were held today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party would clinch 31 seats in the Israeli parliament.
Main challenger Benny Gantz’s Blue & White party would edge second with 30 mandates, or parliament seats.
The secular right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, headed by Avigdor Liberman, and the Joint Arab List would each receive 11 mandates, while Ayelet Shaked’s right-wing Yamina (To The Right) and ultra-Orthodox Shas party would each receive 8 mandates.
That was followed by ultra-Orthodox party United Torah Judaism with seven seats and Labor at six seats.
Trailing in the polls are left-wing Democratic Union and far-right Jewish Power, predicted to receive four mandates each, with the latter passing the 3.25% threshold needed to win seats at the Knesset for the first time this election cycle.
According to the survey, the right-wing bloc with the ultra-Orthodox parties does not possess the required 61 seats to form a coalition, which puts Liberman in the kingmaker position. The right-wing bloc stands with 58 seats while the left-wing bloc has 51 -- each without Liberman’s 11 mandates.
This means Netanyahu, if his Likud remains the largest party come September 17’s general election, could opt for a unity government without the ultra-Orthodox parties, as is Liberman’s stated preference.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu upholds his top spot as the “best suited to be prime minister,” with 40% of Israeli respondents believing he is best fit for the role.
Benny Gantz trails behind at 23% of respondents who believe he is best suited to lead the nation.
The next highest recipient at 19% was “other” or undecided, and far behind follows Yamina leader Ayelet Shaked at 5%.