Netanyahu Slips In Israeli Election Polls, Opposition Party May Unseat Him In October 27 Vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud coalition have slipped in the polls for the October 27 election. While the current ruling coalition of the Jewish State is still projected to win the most seats from any group, a new parliamentary coalition is expected to form which will be able to outvote Likud.

The poll comes from a Channel 13 survey on Wednesday, which showed the opposition taking 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats. The Israeli media outlet did not reveal the survey’s sample size or margin of error.

It is the first major poll in over than a month which shows that the opposition is capable of forming a government without having to rely on Palestinian-majority parties.

“Former Israeli army chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party was projected to win 21 seats, placing it just behind Netanyahu’s Likud on 22. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Together alliance would follow with 15 seats, while Yair Golan’s Democrats were forecast to win 11 and Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu 10,” Middle East Eye said Thursday.

Despite Likud winning the most seats from any single coalition, “a new alliance led by Yoaz Hendel and Chili Tropper would take the remaining four seats needed to give the opposition its majority.”

Israeli politics is distinctly different from American politics. While the American “far-right” seeks to enforce immigration law and lower taxes, Israel’s “far-right” seeks to expand the nation as part of the “Greater Israel” project while committing genocide against its neighbors. Likud is comprised of various radicals from the Netanyahu government.

“United Torah Judaism was projected to receive eight seats, with Shas and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s Jewish Power forecast to win seven each. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party was forecast to win six,” Middle East Eye said of the parties that make up Likud.

There is a belief that tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad could return to vote against Netanyahu, a much higher amount than would return to vote for him.

In response, senior Israeli officials from Transportation Minister Miri Regev’s agency mulled restrictions on inbound flights immediately before the election, as well as restricting charter services.

Notably, it appears that the older generations in Israel generally oppose Netanyahu. Likud has taken steps to make voting harder for that demographic.

“A Knesset committee also advanced a measure ending the provision of polling stations in retirement and assisted-living facilities,” Middle East Eye said. “The change could affect up to 37,000 people – roughly the number of votes needed for one Knesset seat – from an age group that largely opposes Netanyahu.”

The election does not just pose a risk to Netanyahu’s power, but his freedom as well. The Prime Minister faces a series of corruption charges, charges which may result in prison time if he is no longer needed to lead the nation in war.

President Donald Trump has referred to the Prime Minister as a “wartime” leader and a “hero” as well as requested the Israeli President to pardon him.

PBS detailed the legal battle Netanyahu is fighting:

He is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases accusing him of exchanging favors with wealthy political supporters including a telecom company, a Hollywood producer and a newspaper publisher.