Likud appears to be losing support ahead of Israel’s upcoming legislative elections, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his party might not be able to win the election under the current circumstances.
Netanyahu said in closed-door meetings that Likud would lose the election “if nothing changes.” Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported that Netanyahu acknowledged his party had lost 10 seats and said, “I don’t know how to win them back.”
Likud ranks second in Channel 13 poll
A poll published by Channel 13 on Wednesday projected that Yashar, led by Gadi Eisenkot, would win 24 seats if the election were held today. That result was two seats below the figure in the channel’s poll published last week.
The same poll gave Likud 19 seats. Netanyahu’s party had stood at 23 seats in the previous poll.
Netanyahu has approached polls supporting him with skepticism and believes Likud’s position is worse than the surveys indicate. While Likud is losing ground, Yashar, led by Eisenkot, is increasing its support. Polls conducted by organizations close to right-wing groups in Israel show a stronger position for Netanyahu and Likud.
Blocs fall short of the majority needed
According to the poll results, the bloc formed by Jewish opposition parties led by Eisenkot would win 57 seats. Netanyahu’s coalition bloc would receive 48 seats, while Arab parties would win a total of 15.
Forming a government in Israel requires the support of at least 61 lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset.
In response to a question about the candidates’ suitability for prime minister, Eisenkot received 46% support, while Netanyahu stood at 35%. Nineteen percent of participants answered, “I don’t know.”
General election planned for October 27
The general election planned for October 27 is considered critical to Netanyahu’s political future. The Israeli prime minister faces allegations of corruption, authoritarianism and failure.
Netanyahu has headed the government described as the most right-wing in Israel’s history since the end of December 2022. He is also wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
