Benjamin Netanyahu faces political decline amid rising competition

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces declining political support as new polling indicates a significant loss of public trust. According to an INSS survey, only 31 percent of respondents expressed high confidence in Netanyahu, while 67 percent reported low confidence. This decline is largely attributed to ongoing questions regarding political responsibility for the October 7 Hamas attacks and the lack of a decisive victory in the Gaza war.

Adding to the political pressure, Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief, has launched the Yashar party. Eisenkot has criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of prioritizing personal political survival over national security. Recent polls suggest Yashar could secure approximately 23 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, potentially outperforming Netanyahu’s Likud party, which is projected to win 20 seats.

With no single bloc currently projected to reach the 61-seat majority required to form a government, the upcoming October parliamentary elections may result in a highly fragmented Knesset where independent formations hold significant influence.