"Maariv" pollster: "The Haredi public is in crisis - and the parties are paying"

Dr. Menachem Lazar, a pollster for "Maariv," analyzes the crisis within the Haredi public reflected in recent polls: Shas is weakening among Haredi voters angry over the failure to extend the blanket exemption from military service and among traditional voters who serve in the IDF, while United Torah Judaism is losing power due to leadership changes and a new party. Likud is also losing support from the Religious Zionist public following its primaries.

Dr. Menachem Lazar, a pollster for "Maariv," analyzes the crisis within the Haredi public reflected in recent polls. According to him, Shas is weakening among two key demographics: Haredi voters, who are angry about the failure to continue the blanket exemption from IDF service, and traditional voters, who serve in the IDF and oppose efforts to advance an exemption. While Shas's downward trend has continued for months, this week United Torah Judaism, which had remained relatively stable, is also losing power. Lazar attributes this to leadership changes, internal infighting, and the establishment of a new Haredi party that is polling at about one percent but is undermining the ability to rally the Haredi public. Additionally, Lazar estimates that following the Likud primaries, which pushed out nearly all of its Religious Zionist-identified MKs, the Religious Zionist public is shifting its support to Religious Zionism and Am Yisrael. Lazar notes that despite the disqualification of the Arab parties by the Central Elections Committee, this has not yet been reflected in the polls.