Poll: 42% of Likud Voters May Choose Other Parties in 2026

Forty-two percent of Israelis who voted for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party in the last election are either considering voting for another party or have already decided to do so in the next Knesset election, according to a Channel 12 poll published Friday.

The survey found that 58% of those who voted Likud in 2022 plan to support the party again in the fall election. But the remaining share reflects a significant vulnerability for Netanyahu’s party, which has struggled in recent polling amid anger over the October 7 massacre, the war, and the coalition’s push to legislate broad military service exemptions for Haredi yeshiva students.

Among 2022 Likud voters, 10% said they now plan to support the Together slate formed by former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid. Six percent said they would vote for former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, while 4% said they would back Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu.

Three percent said they would vote for National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit, 2% for Yoaz Hendel’s Reservists party, 1% for Benny Gantz’s Blue and White, and 1% for Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party. Another 8% said they were undecided, while 6% said they would not vote.

Among Likud voters who are considering leaving the party or have already decided to do so, 37% cited the failure to prevent the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack as the main reason. Another 23% pointed to the government’s efforts to pass legislation exempting Haredi yeshiva students from military service.

Netanyahu’s personal conduct was cited by 14%, while 13% named divisions in Israeli society. Another 13% said they were unsure.

The poll also found that 64% of Likud voters from the last election believe Netanyahu should run again, while 30% said he should retire.

Asked who should eventually lead Likud after Netanyahu, 10% named former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, 9% chose Economy Minister Nir Barkat, 8% named Defense Minister Israel Katz, and 7% chose Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Forty-five percent said none of the listed candidates.

Likud voters were broadly opposed to placing Netanyahu’s son Yair on the party slate, with 67% saying he should not be included and 17% saying he should.

The survey also found dissatisfaction with Likud’s current lawmakers, with 55% of Likud voters saying they were not satisfied with the party’s slate, compared with 38% who said they were.