The Israeli Knesset may shift after the next elections, with the opposition projected to gain a 61-seat majority if led by Naftali Bennett, according to a Maariv poll published Friday. The current coalition would receive just 49 seats.Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party would win four seats, just above the electoral threshold, according to the same poll. If MK Gadi Eisenkot were to form a new party, it would not change the overall balance between the two blocs.
A key factor could be the creation of a new party by Israel-Hamas War veterans, reservist groups, and youth organizations, which would become the third-largest faction if it runs. The poll shows this party would receive 13 seats, behind Likud with 21 (down from 25 without the new party) and Bennett’s party with 18 (down from 23).
Unlike Bennett and Eisenkot, this new party appears to draw support from undecided voters, the opposition, and Likud. Under this scenario, the opposition would rise to 66 seats, while the coalition would drop to 44. Arab parties would retain 10 seats, indicating a clear opposition win. However, two opposition parties - Blue and White and Eisenkot’s hypothetical party - are polling at just four seats each, putting them at risk of falling below the threshold. If one or both fail to enter the Knesset, the political map could shift significantly. (Read More)
