Five days to elections: dramatic changes in the party map
A Channel 12 poll five days before elections shows Likud dropping to 19 seats, Bennett strengthening to 15, and Eisenkot leading with 23. Winter hovers around the threshold, while Handel-Zlicha remain outside the Knesset. The opposition bloc stands at 69 seats against 51 for the Netanyahu bloc.
Five days before the elections for the 26th Knesset, a Channel 12 poll published last night (Wednesday) presents dramatic changes in the party map. For the first time, Likud has dropped to 19 seats, a low and unusual figure in the current election campaign. In contrast, Naftali Bennett's Together party is strengthening to 15 seats, after a long period of decline. Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party remains the largest with 23 seats, and leads in suitability for prime minister over Benjamin Netanyahu. Two parties are at risk of falling below the electoral threshold: Ofer Winter's Amcha Yisrael, which passed in this poll, and Yoaz Handel and Yaron Zlicha's Union of Reservists-Economic Party, which remains outside the Knesset according to the poll. The opposition bloc opposing Netanyahu stands at 69 seats, compared to 51 for the Netanyahu bloc. The article notes that Bennett has crossed 40% suitability for prime minister against Netanyahu for the first time in a month.