Key facts
- A new poll suggests an Israeli opposition bloc could win 61 seats in the upcoming October election.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is projected to win 22 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party is forecast to win 21.
- Netanyahu's allies are reportedly considering restricting incoming flights before the election to limit potential anti-Netanyahu voters.
- A Knesset committee has advanced a measure to eliminate polling stations in retirement and assisted-living facilities.
A new poll indicates that a bloc of Israeli parties aiming to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could secure a slim majority of 61 seats in the upcoming October election. The Channel 13 survey, broadcast on Wednesday, showed the opposition capable of forming a government without relying on Palestinian-majority parties, a significant development after more than a month without such polling.
Former Israeli army chief Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party is projected to win 21 seats, placing it narrowly behind Netanyahu's Likud party, which is forecast to secure 22 seats. Other opposition parties, including former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's Together alliance (15 seats), Yair Golan's Democrats (11 seats), and Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu (10 seats), along with a new alliance led by Yoaz Hendel and Chili Tropper (4 seats), would contribute to the opposition's potential majority.
Conversely, Netanyahu's current far-right and ultra-Orthodox coalition partners are projected to fall short. United Torah Judaism is expected to win eight seats, Shas and Jewish Power seven each, and Religious Zionism six. Palestinian parties Hadash-Ta'al and Ra'am are forecast to win five and four seats, respectively. Parties like Balad and former Defense Minister Benny Gantz's Blue and White did not meet the electoral threshold in this poll.
The poll results emerge as allies of Prime Minister Netanyahu are reportedly exploring measures to restrict voting access. Senior officials in Transportation Minister Miri Regev's office have discussed limiting incoming flights immediately before the election, specifically charter services, with the belief that tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad might return to vote against Netanyahu. Additionally, a Knesset committee has advanced a measure to end the provision of polling stations in retirement and assisted-living facilities, a change that could affect up to 37,000 voters from an age group that largely opposes the current prime minister.