Poll: Eisenkot bloc leads over Netanyahu coalition by one seat

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 25, 2026

A recent poll shows that the political bloc led by Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot would narrowly edge out Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, securing 52 seats to Netanyahu’s 51 if elections were held now. This shift highlights the increasing impact of smaller parties like the reservists’ faction entering the Knesset and underscores the fragile balance shaping Israel’s next government formation.

A new poll released Wednesday indicates that the political bloc led by Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot would narrowly surpass Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition if an election were held today. According to the survey, Eisenkot’s bloc would secure 52 seats in the Knesset, one more than Netanyahu’s alliance, which has declined by three seats since a poll conducted just one week earlier.

The poll, conducted by the research groups Hamadad and Askaria with input from Professor David Steinberg, included responses from 1,503 participants and has a margin of error of 2.5 percent. It also highlighted a significant development with the reservists’ faction, led by Yoaz Hendel, crossing the electoral threshold and gaining four seats, marking their first entry into the Knesset.

Likud, Netanyahu’s party, garnered 18 seats, the lowest tally it has received in recent months. Yashar remains the largest single party with 22 seats. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Baynat party decreased by one seat, falling to 11, while the Democrats increased by one seat to also hold 11. Otzma Yehudit is projected to win seven seats.

Among the Arab parties, the Joint List maintains eight seats, while Mansour Abbas’s United Arab List fell by one seat to five. Yisrael Beiteinu remains steady with eight seats. United Torah Judaism gained one seat and holds eight, and Shas remains unchanged with seven seats. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party declined by two seats to six. Ofer Winter’s Amkha Yisrael also dropped by one seat, securing five seats.

Benny Gantz’s Kahol Lavan party failed to cross the electoral threshold, receiving only 0.8 percent of the vote, effectively excluding it from Knesset representation under the current projection.

The poll reflects continuing volatility in Israeli politics with shifting support among both right-wing and Arab parties. The results underscore the narrow margins that could determine the formation of the next government, highlighting the growing influence of smaller factions and new political players within the Knesset.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.