Netanyahu on the edge: Polls highlight growing opposition and internal strains

The new poll, published today (Friday) by the newspaper Maariv, indicates that support for Netanyahu’s Likud party has dropped from 26 seats to 24 seats this week. According to the report, the ruling right-wing coalition led by Netanyahu now holds only 48 seats in the Israeli parliament, one fewer than last week.

In contrast, the electoral list led by Naftali Bennett has gained two seats, reaching 24 seats, now equal with Likud. This development suggests that Netanyahu’s declining popularity continues.

Maariv notes that the poll was conducted at a time when three sensitive political issues have again come to the forefront in Israeli politics: the formation of an official investigation committee into security failures during the October 7 incidents, a request for Netanyahu’s pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump, and the dispute between Netanyahu and the cabinet legal advisor regarding the military prosecutor’s investigation.

These three issues have contributed to increased public distrust of the cabinet and a decline in Netanyahu’s popularity.

The poll also shows that the opposition bloc led by Bennett and Gadi Eizenkot now holds 62 seats, one more than last week. Arab parties have collectively gained 10 additional seats.

The Religious Zionism Party, led by Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has dropped from 2.8% support to 1.3%, effectively falling short of the threshold required to gain seats in the Knesset.