The key facts

  • 45% of Israelis consider Eisenkot more suitable for prime minister, 33% — Netanyahu (Channel 12 poll)
  • Eisenkot's Yashar — 24 seats, Likud — 21; the bloc opposing Netanyahu — 55 seats versus 51 for the ruling coalition
  • 64% of respondents said Trump's support for Netanyahu will not affect their vote

Eisenkot widens the gap

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is falling even further behind former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot in a new public opinion poll published on Monday. According to the Channel 12 poll, 45% of respondents consider Eisenkot more suitable for the post of prime minister, while 33% backed Netanyahu. The gap widened to 12 percentage points compared with 10 points in the previous poll.

Seat projection

Eight days remain until the parliamentary election on October 27. Eisenkot's Yashar party, according to the poll's projection, will become the largest in the 120-seat Knesset with 24 mandates, ahead of Netanyahu's Likud with 21 seats. They are followed by the party of former prime minister Naftali Bennett, Together, with 14 seats, as well as Yair Golan's Democrats and the Arab Joint List — nine seats each. Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu, the ultra-Orthodox Shas, and the Jewish Power party of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are each projected to win eight mandates.

The bloc breakdown

According to the poll, Jewish parties opposing Netanyahu win 55 seats — two more than in the previous poll — against 51 seats for his ruling coalition. Two Arab parties add another 14 seats, bringing the total number of mandates outside Netanyahu's bloc to 69, although their participation in a future governing coalition remains uncertain.

Bennett also ahead of Netanyahu

In a separate question on suitability for the post of prime minister, Bennett also outpolled Netanyahu: 39% of respondents preferred the former prime minister versus 34% for the incumbent. Another 22% considered both unfit.

The impact of Trump's endorsement

The poll also examined the impact of public support for Netanyahu by US President Donald Trump on the eve of the election. According to Channel 12, 64% of respondents said Trump's support would not affect their vote, 17% said it reduces the likelihood of their voting for Likud, and only 12% said it strengthens their support for Netanyahu's party. Trump endorsed Netanyahu on Sunday, praising his leadership and partnership with Washington, particularly in confronting Iran.