Poll Shows Eisenkot Surging as Netanyahu Falls to New Low

A new Kan News mandate poll shows a dramatic shift in the political map, with Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party becoming the largest party in the anti-Netanyahu bloc for the first time.

According to the poll, Yashar rises to 21 seats, overtaking Naftali Bennett’s Beyachad party, which falls sharply to 17 seats. Eisenkot now holds a four-seat lead over Bennett and is only two seats behind Likud.

The result marks a major reversal after months in which Bennett had led the opposition camp by a wide margin. Eisenkot records his strongest result so far in Kan News polling, while Bennett posts his weakest showing since announcing his return to political life.

The poll also shows weakness inside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp. Likud drops to 23 seats, its lowest result in months in the channel’s surveys. The current coalition bloc falls by another seat and now stands at just 52 mandates.

The full poll gives Likud, led by Netanyahu, 23 seats; Yashar, led by Eisenkot, 21; Beyachad, led by Bennett, 17; Yisrael Beytenu, led by Avigdor Liberman, 10; the Democrats, led by Yair Golan, 9; Otzma Yehudit, led by Itamar Ben Gvir, 9; Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, 9; United Torah Judaism, 7; Hadash-Ta’al, 7; Religious Zionism, led by Bezalel Smotrich, 4; and Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, 4.

The Reservists’ Party and Blue and White do not cross the electoral threshold.

In bloc terms, the current coalition parties receive 52 seats. The parties opposed to Netanyahu receive 57 seats, while the Arab parties together receive 11.

The poll also examined a scenario in which all Arab parties run together on one united list. In that case, the united Arab list receives 12 seats, while the Netanyahu bloc drops by another seat to 51.

Eisenkot’s rise is also reflected in the question of who should lead the opposition bloc in the next election. He leads with 32%, compared to 22% for Bennett. However, 31% of respondents said neither of them should lead the bloc.

Despite Likud’s decline, Netanyahu still leads in direct matchups for prime minister. Against Bennett, Netanyahu receives 42% suitability compared to Bennett’s 31%, with 27% saying neither is suitable.

Against Eisenkot, Netanyahu receives 41%, compared to 33% for Eisenkot. Another 26% said neither candidate is fit for the job.