Likud falls to one-year low in poll to 22 as war, haredi service law weigh on support

Eisenkot expanded his advantage over the prime minister, receiving 44% support compared with Netanyahu’s 40%.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

A Maariv poll released Friday showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party falling to 22 seats, its lowest level in a year, amid criticism over the government’s handling of the war and controversy surrounding legislation equating enrollment of Torah students with Israel Defense Forces service.

Despite the drop in support for Likud, the broader political map remained largely unchanged.

Netanyahu’s coalition bloc held steady at 50 seats, the same as last week, after the Religious Zionists again crossed the electoral threshold. The Zionist opposition bloc remained at 60 seats, while Arab parties collectively received 10 seats.

The survey highlighted an increasingly competitive contest among Israel’s largest parties.

Likud remained in first place with 22 seats, followed closely by Naftali Bennett’s Together party with 21 and Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! with 20.

While Together lost two seats compared with the previous poll, Yashar! gained three, reaching its strongest result to date.

Asked, “If elections for the Knesset were held today, which party would you vote for?” respondents gave the following results: Likud 22, Together 21, Yashar! 20, the Democrats 10, Yisrael Beytenu 9, Otzma Yehudit 9, Shas 8, United Torah Judaism 7, Hadash-Ta’al 6, Ra’am 4, and Religious Zionists 4.

Three parties failed to pass the electoral threshold: Blue and White with 1.9%, Balad with 2%, and the Reservists with 1.7%.

The poll also examined hypothetical contests for prime minister. Bennett led Netanyahu by 43% to 39%, while Eisenkot expanded his advantage over the prime minister, receiving 44% support compared with Netanyahu’s 40%.

Netanyahu maintained an edge over Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman, leading 41% to 37%.

The survey noted that the gap has narrowed significantly since the previous poll, when Netanyahu held a 48% to 29% advantage.

The poll also measured Israeli views of President Donald Trump’s role in the confrontation with Iran.

Half of respondents, 50%, said they believe Trump will act in Israel’s interests. Another 43% said they have low or no trust in him on the issue, while 7% said they were unsure.