Israel Hayom Reports: An Israel Hayom public opinion poll, ahead of the upcoming early elections, indicated Friday that the Likud party holds a significant advantage. According to the poll, if the election were held today, Likud would win 29 Knesset seats, making it the largest party and its chairman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the likely head of government.
Closely following Likud was Labor, the poll found, with 20 seats, followed by Yisrael Beytenu, which would garner 15 seats. Journalist-turned-politician Yair Lapid’s new party, Yesh Atid, would win 13 seats, while the ultra-Orthodox party Shas would get 11. Kadima, which currently holds the most Knesset seats, would plummet to seven Knesset seats, the poll found.
According to the poll, United Torah Judaism would win five seats; Meretz would win four; New National Religious Party would win four as well; Israeli-Arab parties Hadash and the National Democratic Assembly would win four seats each; smaller Arab party Ra’am-Ta’al would win two; and National Union would also win two.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s Independence would not meet the voter threshold required to enter the next Knesset, the poll found.
