A public opinion poll showed Friday that Israel’s opposition could secure the 61 seats needed to form a government if elections were held today, while 55% of Israelis prefer that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu retire from politics, according to the Israeli Maariv newspaper.
The poll was conducted by the private Lazar Institute among a random sample of 502 Israelis, with a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.
“Asked what they want Netanyahu to do in the next election — run for Likud leadership or retire from political life — 55% said they prefer that he retire, while 38% said they want him to run for Likud leadership, and 7% said they do not know,” the newspaper said.
According to the poll, the opposition would be able to form an alternative government if elections were held today.
Maariv said that amid continued uncertainty in the war on Iran, renewed sinking into the Lebanese quagmire, and Israelis’ concern over rising violence within their society, Likud, led by Netanyahu, and Otzma Yehudit, led by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, lost seats this week.
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“As a result, the poll projects the coalition bloc would drop to 49 seats, while the Jewish opposition bloc would rise to a 61-seat majority and Arab lawmakers would receive 10 seats if elections were held today,” the newspaper said.
A Maariv poll last week showed Netanyahu’s bloc receiving 51 seats, the Jewish opposition 59 seats, and Arab lawmakers 10 seats.
Forming a government requires at least 61 of the Knesset’s 120 members.
The poll comes amid concerns within the ruling coalition that it could lose elections after it submitted a bill Wednesday to dissolve parliament in an attempt to preempt the opposition, which had submitted two similar bills, according to Hebrew media.
The Knesset is expected to begin voting next week on whether to dissolve itself and set an election date.
The current Knesset’s term ends in October, but discussions are underway to hold early elections in September.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
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