Story perspectives

Eisenkot Leads Poll With 24 Projected Seats, Netanyahu 22

8/12/2026

Summary

Eisenkot Leads

Gadi Eisenkot, Yashar party leader, leads the poll with 24 projected seats.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Likud leader, trails with 22 projected seats.
Naftali Bennett, B'Yachad leader, projects 15 seats and Itamar Ben-Gvir, Otzma Yehudit leader, eight.
Benjamin Netanyahu leads Gadi Eisenkot 41% to 34% for preferred prime minister.
In a joint Arab list scenario, the anti-Netanyahu bloc reaches 70 seats, Arab parties 12, with Eisenkot five points ahead of Netanyahu.

Summary

Hogeg Leads

Shirel Hogeg, former CEO of AM:PM, joined Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! party on Monday to head an efficiency program after Eisenkot praised him as a “symbol of citizens who rose up on October 7”.
Hogeg said his sister Dr. Elay Hogeg’s injuries at Kibbutz Kfar Aza motivated his push for accountability and a pledge to import Israeli excellence into ministries.
Israel Zari, Ramat Gan deputy mayor, also joined Yashar! last week.

History

Historical Context

On 17 May 1977 Israel’s ninth Knesset election gave Likud, under Menachem Begin, a plurality, ending nearly thirty years of Alignment rule; the result—called the “Mahapakh”—saw 79% turnout and brought right-wing blocs and the National Religious Party into government, starting a two-decade left-right balance. Today Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! party seeks a similar anti-Netanyahu coalition projected at about 70 seats.

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Eisenkot Leads

Gadi Eisenkot, Yashar party leader, leads the poll with 24 projected seats.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Likud leader, trails with 22 projected seats.
Naftali Bennett, B'Yachad leader, projects 15 seats and Itamar Ben-Gvir, Otzma Yehudit leader, eight.
Benjamin Netanyahu leads Gadi Eisenkot 41% to 34% for preferred prime minister.
In a joint Arab list scenario, the anti-Netanyahu bloc reaches 70 seats, Arab parties 12, with Eisenkot five points ahead of Netanyahu.

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