New poll shows Likud tied with Bennett-Lapid at 25 seats each

A Mano Geva poll for Channel 12 shows Likud and Bennett-Lapid tied at 25 seats, with Eisenkot at 14 seats after adding Yoram Cohen. The Netanyahu bloc stands at 51 seats, with Smotrich polling below the 3% electoral threshold. A merger between Eisenkot and Lieberman would yield 25 seats, one more than Netanyahu, while Bennett-Lapid would drop to 24 seats and the Netanyahu bloc to 50. Chili Tropper and Hendel together would bring 5 seats. Gantz and Hendel held talks about a merger with joint leadership including Tropper before his withdrawal, though discussions have paused without fully closing the door.