Search

Poll: Shaked’s United Right surges to third among Knesset lists

The United Right bloc, headed by Ayelet Shaked, emerges as the third largest faction in a recent poll. 

By World Israel New Staff 

The new United Right bloc, headed by former justice minister Ayelet Shaked, emerges as the third largest faction in the Knesset if elections were held today, says a public opinion poll released by Israel’s Channel 12 News on Tuesday night. Elections are scheduled for September 17.

The newly-merged list was announced on Sunday, comprising parties which make up only five seats in the outgoing Knesset.

According to the survey, conducted by the Midgam Institute and iPanel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and Blue and White, led by MK Benny Gantz, remain tied as the two largest representations in parliament, with 30 seats each in the 120-member Knesset.

United Right follows with 12 seats, according to the poll, ahead of the Joint List of predominantly Arab non-Zionist parties (11).

An effort to unite left-wing parties into one list has proved less successful so far. The Democratic Camp earned only seven seats in the survey. Last-ditch efforts reportedly were still being made to bring the Labor Party into the left-wing merger but the chances of it happening are considered small.

Running together with only a smaller party called Gesher, Labor would win just five seats in the September ballot, according to the poll. It suffered its worst showing in history in the last election, winning just six seats.

Two Haredi religious parties would earn a combined 15 seats.

MK Avigdor Liberman, whose refusal to join a Netanyahu government after the April Knesset election led to the quick dissolution of parliament and the declaration of a September rerun, is again seen as holding the keys, according to the poll.

His Israel Beiteinu party would win 10 seats, says the Channel 12 survey.

This puts him in the driver’s seat to decide whether a right-wing and religious majority led by Netanyahu takes power or a coalition headed by Gantz.