Rising Popularity of Likud Party Amid Conflict
An opinion poll conducted in Israel reveals a significant boost in support for the Likud party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Following the recent military aggression on Lebanon, the Likud party is projected to secure 25 out of 120 Knesset seats if elections were held today. This marks a notable increase in popularity for Netanyahu's party, especially since the escalation of violence in Gaza began on October 7.
Opposition Parties Struggle to Keep Pace
In contrast to Likud's rise, the opposition party 'State Camp', led by Benny Gantz, is expected to win only 19 seats. The 'There is a Future' party, headed by Yair Lapid, follows closely with 15 seats, while the right-wing party 'Israel Our Home', led by Avigdor Lieberman, is estimated to secure 14 seats. The poll indicates that the coalition supporting Netanyahu could potentially hold 53 seats, still trailing behind the opposition's expected 57 seats.
Implications of the Poll Results
The poll results reflect the impact of the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah on Israeli voters' preferences. Notably, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett could pose a challenge to Netanyahu's leadership if he were to establish a new party, potentially winning 21 seats. Currently, 43% of Israelis express a preference for Bennett as the head of government, compared to 37% for Netanyahu. As the situation remains tense, with over 730 Lebanese casualties reported, Netanyahu shows no inclination to call for elections during the ongoing war.
