Israel Likud Falls to Lowest Seats Since 2025 as Isenkoet’s Yeshar Leads Poll

A recent Israeli opinion poll released by the newspaper *Maariv* shows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party dropping to 20 seats in the Knesset, the lowest figure recorded since June 2025. The decline of two seats from the previous survey follows a contentious legislative campaign and a controversial video targeting former army chief Gadi Isenkoet.

The Yeshar party, headed by Isenkoet, surged to the top of voter intentions with an estimated 23 seats, overtaking Likud by three seats. Other parties in the poll include Ma'an (17 seats), Israel Beitenu (10 seats), and the Democrats (11 seats). The opposition bloc retains a slim parliamentary majority with 61 seats against 49 for Netanyahu’s governing coalition, while Arab parties hold a steady 10 seats. The survey also examined potential coalition scenarios, noting that a partnership between Netanyahu and former Likud leader Naftali Bennett could reshape the electoral map.

These figures reflect shifting public sentiment ahead of the scheduled election on 27 October and suggest significant challenges for the Likud-led government as it seeks to retain power.