Maariv readers' poll: How many seats did Amselem's interview cost Likud?

The interview of Dudi Amselem on 103FM, in which he said that Gadi Eisenkot could have found his place in Likud, sparked a political storm. A Maariv readers' poll shows that 52.2% believe the minister harmed the Likud campaign. Additionally, a voter poll shows Eisenkot leads with 13% among opposition candidates, but 63% of coalition voters do not see any of them as suitable for prime minister.

The interview of Dudi Amselem on 103FM, in which he said that Gadi Eisenkot could have found his place in Likud had he not taken the military path, sparked a political storm. Amselem described the army as a "breeding ground" that shaped Eisenkot's views and distanced him from his original positions. He clarified that this was not an offer for immediate joining, but a move conditional on a deep change in the political positions of the Yashar party chairman. Additionally, Amselem criticized internal procedures in Likud and clarified that the party does not belong to Netanyahu or any other person, but later expressed full support for the prime minister's candidacy. A Maariv readers' poll shows that 52.2% believe the minister harmed the Likud campaign, compared to 21.7% who thought not. Among coalition voters, 44.6% assessed that Amselem harmed the campaign. On the question of seats, 38.2% assessed that Eisenkot would take one to three seats from Likud, 27.2% three to five, and 34.6% five or more. Another voter poll shows Eisenkot leads with 13% among opposition candidates, but 63% of coalition voters do not see any of them as suitable for prime minister. In the overall match-up, Eisenkot leads Netanyahu by a ten-point gap - 48% to 38%.