New Israeli Poll Indicates Netanyahu’s Party Gaining Support, Reports Reuters

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A recent opinion poll indicates that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party would emerge as the largest party in parliament if elections were held today, reflecting a gradual recovery since the attacks on October 7 last year.

The poll, published in a left-leaning daily, revealed that Likud is projected to secure 24 seats, down from 32, marking its highest result in this specific poll since the attacks. The National Unity Party, led by centrist former general Benny Gantz, is anticipated to win 21 seats.

Despite Likud’s lead, Netanyahu’s coalition, which includes several nationalist-religious and ultra-Orthodox parties, would not secure enough seats to form a government, with a total of 53 seats compared to the 58 for the main opposition coalition, according to the survey.

The rise in Likud’s support highlights Netanyahu’s recovery from a previous decline in popularity, which arose due to widespread public anger over security lapses that allowed Hamas gunmen to invade Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and more than 250 hostages being taken.

Earlier in the conflict with Hamas in Gaza, opinion polls indicated that Likud’s support was stagnating at approximately 16 to 18 seats.

The survey also showed an improvement in Netanyahu’s personal approval ratings, with respondents favoring him over other potential candidates, except for former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who is currently out of the political arena.

Despite ongoing tensions within the coalition involving Netanyahu and several ministers, as well as frequent protests by citizens urging action to secure the release of Gaza hostages, the government has remained stable for nearly two years, with elections not anticipated until 2026.

Netanyahu has encountered disagreements with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and two hardliners – National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

While Likud’s support has steadily increased, the two nationalist-religious parties, Jewish Power led by Ben-Gvir and Religious Zionism under Smotrich, have not experienced similar boosts, incentivizing them to remain within the government.