Poll: Likud regains lead but opposition bloc still ahead by three seats

A recent poll conducted by the Kantar Institute reveals that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has regained the lead in the Israeli elections, despite opposition blocs still holding a three-seat advantage. The poll, which surveyed 551 respondents, shows Netanyahu's Likud with 24 seats, surpassing Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, which remained stable at 23.

The opposition coalition, consisting of Jewish parties opposing Netanyahu, gained three seats and now totals 56 seats, falling short of a majority without the support of Arab parties. After Netanyahu's Likud gained a single seat, the governing coalition in the 120-seat Knesset stands at 53 members. The Zionist Home party, led by Yoaz Hendel and Chili Tropper, failed to surpass the electoral threshold, resulting in a loss of one seat for Netanyahu's coalition.

Jewish parties opposing Netanyahu secured a total of 56 seats, while Bennett's Together party and Naftali Bennett's Together party maintained their third-largest position with 13 seats. The Democratic Party increased its representation to 10 seats, while Yisrael Beiteinu also reached 10 seats. Otzma Yehudit lost a single seat, projecting eight seats, and Shas and United Torah Judaism both remained steady at eight seats each.

The United Arab List gained a single seat, reaching six seats, and Religious Zionism gained one seat, attaining five seats. Hadash-Ta al lost a seat and was projected to accumulate five seats. In line with several recent polls, Balad and Blue and White parties did not cross the electoral threshold, along with the Zionist Home party.

The Kantar Institute's poll was conducted among 551 respondents, with a margin of error of 4.2 percentage points.