Israeli opposition bloc projected to lead Knesset in latest polls

Recent polling conducted for Kanal 12 ahead of Israel's general elections scheduled for October 27 indicates that the opposition bloc is projected to lead the Knesset, though no single group is expected to secure the 61 seats required to form a government.

The survey shows Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party as the largest single party with 23 seats, followed by Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud with 20 seats. The combined opposition, including Yashar, Naftali Bennett’s Together party, the Democrats, and Yisrael Beiteinu, would hold 54 seats. Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s coalition partners are projected to hold 50 seats.

Arab parties, including the Joint List and Ra'am, are expected to win a combined 12 seats. The results suggest that forming a majority would likely require cooperation with these parties. In a preference poll for Prime Minister, Eisenkot received 41 percent support compared to 38 percent for Netanyahu.