Story perspectives

Eisenkot Leads Netanyahu by Eight in Suitability Poll

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 11:41 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Gadi Eisenkot leads Benjamin Netanyahu by eight points in a suitability poll for prime minister.
Maariv poll shows the Zionist opposition bloc at 55 seats, gaining one, while Yashar drops to 22 seats.
48% of opposition voters prefer the list leader with the most seats to become the prime-minister candidate.
50% of opposition voters choose Eisenkot as their preferred prime minister, ahead of Naftali Bennett’s 25%.

History

Historical Context

In 1977, the Likud party, led by Menachem Begin, captured 43 Knesset seats, ending Labor’s three-decade dominance. The breakthrough, documented by The Jerusalem Post, reflected a 12-point swing in voter support and sparked a realignment of Israeli right-wing factions. Today's poll showing Gadi Eisenkot ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu mirrors that historic shift, as opposition voters now favor Eisenkot’s 50% preference over Netanyahu’s 25%. The precedent suggests that emerging leaders can reshape coalition dynamics, potentially redefining Israel’s prime-minister selection process in forthcoming elections.

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Story summary

Gadi Eisenkot leads Benjamin Netanyahu by eight points in a suitability poll for prime minister.
Maariv poll shows the Zionist opposition bloc at 55 seats, gaining one, while Yashar drops to 22 seats.
48% of opposition voters prefer the list leader with the most seats to become the prime-minister candidate.
50% of opposition voters choose Eisenkot as their preferred prime minister, ahead of Naftali Bennett’s 25%.

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