Support for Israeli far right surges among first-time voters, poll finds
Support for Israeli far right surges among first-time voters, poll finds Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Fri, 10/09/2026 - 15:27 Ben Gvir and Smotrich’s parties projected to win 16 percent of first-time voters, outpolling Netanyahu’s Likud Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, surrounded by Israeli policemen, waves to right-wing activists gathering outside the Damascus Gate of the…
New poll reveals growing support for Israeli far-right parties among first-time voters ahead of upcoming elections. Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party is projected to garner 8.88 percent of first-time voter support, translating to 15 Knesset seats. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist alliance is expected to receive 8.09 percent, or 14 seats.
Together, the two parties would secure 29 Knesset seats based on the poll. They outperform Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, which receives 7.95 percent, or 14 seats. Otzma Yehudit narrowly trails the Together alliance, led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, with 8.98 percent, or 16 seats. Gadi Eisenkot, a challenger to Netanyahu, also trails Ben Gvir, with his Yashar party receiving 8.75 percent, or 15 seats.
The Zionist Democrats alliance, successor to the Labor Party, polls at 4.99 percent, or nine seats. The Joint List, predominantly backed by Palestinian citizens, receives 5.23 percent, or nine seats. The poll suggests a surge in far-right support among young Israelis for the upcoming 27 October elections.
Written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
