Gadi Eisenkot Leads Israeli Polls as Public Rejects Chareidi Parties in Coalition

Two recent Israeli opinion polls show former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot emerging as the most credible political leader and the front‑runner for a future Knesset. A Channel 13 poll projects Eisenkot's Yashar party at 23 seats, just ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud at 22 seats, with other parties trailing. The same poll notes that coalition‑forming parties would need Arab‑majority parties to reach a majority.

A separate survey commissioned by Channel 12 finds 54% of respondents rate Eisenkot's credibility as good, while only 29% rate it negatively. By contrast, 60% view Netanyahu's credibility as poor. The poll also reveals that 61% of Israelis would prefer a government that does not include the chareidi (ultra‑Orthodox) parties, and 53% oppose a coalition reliant on the Arab Ra’am party.

These findings suggest a shift in public sentiment toward Eisenkot and a strong resistance to chareidi party participation in the next governing coalition.