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Netanyahu Leads Poll, Opposition Bloc Near Majority

8/10/2026

38 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Likud, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, leads the KAN poll with 24 seats versus Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot’s 23.
The Zionist opposition bloc totals 55 seats, three more than the current coalition.
A Zman Yisrael poll gives Eisenkot 23 seats, Bennett 15 and Liberman 11.
Analyst Tuchfeld says Eisenkot appears the likeliest opposition leader as Bennett’s support drops, noting the KAN poll shows 41% favor Netanyahu versus 34% for Eisenkot.

History

Historical Context

On 17 May 1977 Israel held its ninth Knesset election, and Likud under Menachem Begin won a plurality, ending almost 30 years of Labor dominance—a shift dubbed the Mahapach. Voter turnout reached 79 percent, and Begin formed a coalition with the National Religious Party. The 1977 upset shows how narrow seat gaps can force new coalition talks, echoing today’s Likud-Netanyahu poll.

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Story summary

Likud, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, leads the KAN poll with 24 seats versus Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot’s 23.
The Zionist opposition bloc totals 55 seats, three more than the current coalition.
A Zman Yisrael poll gives Eisenkot 23 seats, Bennett 15 and Liberman 11.
Analyst Tuchfeld says Eisenkot appears the likeliest opposition leader as Bennett’s support drops, noting the KAN poll shows 41% favor Netanyahu versus 34% for Eisenkot.

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