A new Maariv poll reveals Israel’s political stalemate is deepening, with Naftali Bennett’s return electrifying the opposition and Netanyahu’s coalition still far from regaining power.
Israel’s political deadlock shows no sign of breaking — and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett could be the key to tipping the balance.
A Maariv poll released Friday morning reveals that the coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains stranded at just 49 Knesset seats, while the opposition bloc — now energized by Bennett’s political comeback — holds a commanding 61-seat majority.
Bennett’s Surprise Surge
When voters were asked who they would back if Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot each launched new parties, the results showed a dramatic reshuffling:
- Likud: 25 seats
- Bennett’s New Party: 23
- The Democrats: 10
- Yisrael Beytenu: 9
- Shas: 9
- United Torah Judaism: 8
- Eisenkot’s New Party: 8
- Yesh Atid: 7
- Otzma Yehudit: 7
- Ra’am: 6
- Blue and White: 4
- Hadash-Ta’al: 4
Parties Balad and Religious Zionism failed to cross the electoral threshold.
What It Means for Netanyahu
Despite Likud holding first place, the right-religious bloc’s inability to expand beyond 49 seats leaves Netanyahu trapped in a stalemate — and possibly on a collision course with early elections.
Bennett’s hypothetical return appears to siphon votes not only from the center and left but also from Netanyahu’s own voter base. Meanwhile, Eisenkot’s centrist appeal could chip away at both Yesh Atid and Blue and White, further consolidating the opposition.
The Bigger Picture
The poll underscores a dangerous reality for Netanyahu:
- Even without Bennett and Eisenkot in the race, the coalition is short of a majority.
- With them, the gap widens in favor of the opposition.
- The once-dominant Religious Zionism faction now risks political extinction.
If these numbers hold, Israel’s next election could see Bennett in a kingmaker role — or even reclaiming the premiership.
