Polls Show Tight Race Between Netanyahu and Eisenkot Blocs as Knesset Lists Finalize

Recent polling indicates a dead heat between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right wing bloc and Gadi Eisenkot's opposition, with both projected to hold 53 seats. While Gadi Eisenkot's party remains the largest with 22 seats, Likud is projected at 21 seats. The political landscape remains volatile as parties race to finalize their Knesset lists by early next week.

Right wing dynamics are currently characterized by internal friction and strategic shifts. Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party has merged with Moshe Feiglin's Zehut party and is projected to receive six seats. Additionally, Ofer Winter's new list, which includes bereaved families from October 7 and Yoseph Haddad, is projected to receive four seats. Despite these gains, Netanyahu has urged voters to avoid smaller right wing parties to prevent splintered votes from aiding the opposition.

On the center left, Eisenkot is reportedly in talks with Benny Gantz, although Gantz's Blue and White party is currently projected to fail to cross the electoral threshold. Meanwhile, Mansour Abbas is running Ra'am alone and is expected to place a Jewish former police chief at number two. Naftali Bennett has reportedly softened his stance on a pardon for Netanyahu on the condition that Netanyahu leaves politics, though Bennett continues to rule out serving in a government with him.

Outlets with different political leanings frame these developments differently. A center right source emphasizes the strain and cracks within Netanyahu's bloc, highlighting Likud's slide in the polls. Conversely, a left leaning source frames the rise of far right parties as a boost to the Netanyahu bloc that weakens his rivals.