Eisenkot's Yashar party takes one seat lead over Likud following Monday's primaries - poll

Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party has gained a one-seat lead over Likud, securing 24 seats after Monday's Likud primaries, according to a KAN News poll released on Wednesday. Likud maintained its second-place position with 23 seats, while Naftali Bennett's B Yachad party claimed third place with 14 seats. The overall coalition would still hold 52 seats, while the opposing bloc would retain 57. The Arab parties would keep a collective 11 seats.

The primaries for Likud proved more competitive than in previous years due to changes that granted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greater control over the party's Knesset slate. Energy Minister Eli Cohen topped the list for Likud, followed by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and coalition chairman Ofir Katz.

However, 44% of respondents believed the Likud primary list was no different from their previous Knesset list, with 24% unsure. Eighteen percent thought the new list was better, while 14% felt it was worse. Among those planning to vote for Likud in the upcoming election, 41% found the new list superior to the previous one.

The poll also addressed the possibility of giving Religious Zionist Party chairman Bezalel Smotrich a reserved spot on the Likud list. A majority, 62%, opposed this move, while 14% supported it, and 24% were unsure. The poll further indicated that smaller parties would retain similar seat allocations, with the Democrats winning 10 seats, the Zionist Home-The Reservists party dropping by 0.1 percentage points to 2.9%, Balad at 2.1%, the Unity party of Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein at 1.6%, Blue and White at 1.4%, and Shas at 7 seats. Hadash-Ta al would remain stable at six seats, while Mansour Abbas's Ra am would stay at five.