Newsletters
Latest polling by Channel 12 on Israel’s parliamentary election set for Oct. 27 shows that U.S. President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu did not visibly boost the governing bloc’s vote.
Channel 12 television aired its first survey since Trump voiced his backing for Netanyahu, and it shows neither the bloc led by the prime minister nor the opposition camp reaching the majority of 61 needed to govern in the 120-member parliament.
Opposition parties reach 55 seats, while Netanyahu’s camp stays at 51. Either side appears to need the support of two Arab parties controlling 14 mandates to form a cabinet.
Trump’s announcement of backing for Netanyahu did not translate into more votes for the ruling camp, the result indicates.
Forming a government in Israel takes a confidence vote from at least 61 lawmakers in the 120-member parliament.
In Channel 12’s poll, Netanyahu’s bloc sees Likud winning 21 seats, Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power and Shas taking eight each, and United Torah Judaism and Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism earning seven each.
Within the opposition, Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar leads with 24 seats, followed by Naftali Bennett’s Together with 14, Yair Golan’s Democrats with nine and Avigdor Liberman’s Israel Our Home with eight.
Joint List, representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, is expected to win nine seats, while Mansur Abbas’s Raam Party (United Arab List) should take five.
Ofer Winter’s Israel’s People and Yoaz Hendel’s Reservists Party reportedly fall short of the 3.25% electoral threshold.
Asked to choose between the two men for prime minister, 45% of respondents picked Eisenkot, while 33% backed Netanyahu.
Overall turnout intention measures 72%, with enthusiasm to go to the polls running higher among opposition backers: 81% of them say they will cast ballots, compared with 74% of Netanyahu loyalists.
The poll, conducted with 507 respondents, carries a margin of error of 4.4%.
1 min read
Trump had announced his support for Netanyahu ahead of the Oct. 27 elections in Israel.
In a post on his social media account titled “To the Great People of Israel,” Trump described Netanyahu as “a great warrior” and Washington’s “great partner of peace” in the struggle against Iran.
Addressing Iran, Trump said, “If they do not change their ways quickly, we will finish the job soon.” He added that should Israel pick a leader other than Netanyahu, the U.S. would have to carry it out itself, though it does not intend to.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
