“Israel’s electorate strengthens Zionist parties as Arab-backed factions weaken, reflecting a firm national shift toward resilience.”
For the first time in many weeks, the Religious Zionism party has surged back above the electoral threshold, securing four seats in a new Maariv survey conducted by the Lazar Research Institute. The shift signals renewed confidence in the nationalist camp at a time when Israel continues facing regional hostility and internal political pressure.
According to the poll, if elections were held today, the Knesset distribution would look like this:
- Likud – 26
- Benny Gantz’s party – 22
- Yisrael Beytenu – 9
- The Democrats – 9
- Yesh Atid – 9
- Otzma Yehudit – 8
- Shas – 8
- Yisrael! with Eisenkot – 8
- United Torah Judaism – 7
- Hadash-Ta’al – 5
- Ra’am – 5
- Religious Zionism – 4
The poll shows the coalition bloc climbing to 53 seats, while the opposition drops to 57 seats, with an additional 10 seats held by the Arab-led Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am, who continue to weaken after months of public frustration over their rhetoric amid ongoing security crises.
One of the headline findings is the surprising level of public support for a presidential pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- 38% support a full, unconditional pardon
- 27% favor a pardon only if it includes admission of guilt and departure from political life
- 21% oppose a pardon
- 14% remain undecided
The numbers underscore a deeply divided but increasingly pragmatic electorate—one that recognizes Netanyahu’s central role in Israel’s strategic stability even while grappling with legal controversies.
The rise of Religious Zionism and the strong showing of right-wing and Zionist parties reflect a national mood shaped by external threats, the Gaza war’s ongoing consequences, and frustration with parties perceived as aligned with Arab nationalist interests.
