Poll Shows 60% Israeli Support for Netanyahu-Led Unity Government with Bennett and Eisenkot
A new survey shows 60% Israeli support for a Netanyahu-led unity government with Eisenkot and Bennett, conditioned on specific policy commitments. Meanwhile, 74% oppose an Eisenkot-led minority government backed by Arab parties.
A new poll indicates that 60% of Israelis would support a unity government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett, provided it commits to drafting ultra-Orthodox citizens, establishing a state commission of inquiry, halting Netanyahu's trial, and advancing judicial reform by consensus. The survey, conducted by Tsuriel Sharon of Direct Polls for i24NEWS and published on Tuesday, found that 34% of respondents oppose the proposed coalition.
The detailed survey tested a specific government composition including Likud, Eisenkot's Yashar!, Bennett's BeYachad, and Religious Zionism, with Netanyahu remaining at the helm. The registered support is contingent upon this exact composition and the four stipulated conditions, rather than a blanket endorsement of any unity government. These findings emerge a week after Knesset elections in which neither political bloc secured the 61-seat majority.
Ahead of consultations at the President's Residence, the survey also tested public sentiment regarding a potential minority government led by Eisenkot with the participation of Mansour Abbas's Ra'am, relying on external support or abstention from the Joint List. An overwhelming 74% of respondents opposed this scenario, while 22% expressed support.
When asked to choose between various government formation options, a unity government led by Netanyahu garnered 34% support, matching the exact percentage of respondents who preferred heading to fresh elections. Meanwhile, a minority government headed by Eisenkot was favored by 16%, and 14% supported a unity government led by Eisenkot.
The poll also projected seat allocation in the event of new elections. Likud would rise from 27 to 28 mandates, while Eisenkot's Yashar! would drop from 21 to 20. Bennett's BeYachad would maintain its 12 seats, and the Joint List would hold steady at 11 mandates.
The Democrats would secure 8 seats, and Yisrael Beytenu would gain one mandate to reach 8. Ra'am would lose a seat, dropping to 7 mandates, matching Shas and United Torah Judaism. Both Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit would receive 6 mandates each.
In terms of bloc distribution, the current coalition reaches 54 mandates, one more than the actual election results. Eisenkot's bloc remains at 48 seats, while Arab parties collectively hold 18 mandates following a one-seat drop. The survey was conducted on November 2 by Direct Polls among 559 respondents aged 18 and above, with a maximum sampling error of 4.1%.
