Tel Aviv, Israel – A recent public opinion poll in Israel, conducted in June 2026, revealed significant shifts in the political landscape. The Yashar party, led by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, saw a notable rise in support. It also surpassed the Together alliance, headed by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party continues to struggle to maintain its lead. This comes amidst a highly complex political landscape.
Seat map: Likud in the lead, Yashar enters the competition
According to a poll conducted by Israel’s Channel 12, Likud continues to lead with 24 seats, making it the largest bloc in the Knesset. However, the surprise came with the surge made by Yashar’s party, led by Eisenkot, which secured 22 seats. It also surpassed the “Together” alliance, comprised of Bennett and Yair Lapid, which remained at 17 seats.
These figures reveal a sharp polarization within the opposition camp. Eisenkot has emerged as Netanyahu’s most significant challenger. In the direct contest for the premiership, the poll showed a very close race, with Netanyahu receiving 37% compared to Eisenkot’s 36%. Netanyahu still maintains a comfortable lead over Bennett (40% to 32%).
The camps failed to reach a decisive result.
In terms of the balance of power, the poll gives the anti-Netanyahu opposition bloc 58 seats, compared to 52 for the current governing coalition. With the Arab parties securing 10 seats, neither bloc remains able to reach the legal threshold (61 seats) required to form a stable government. This perpetuates the political deadlock gripping Israel.
As for the other parties, Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas each received 9 seats, the Democratic Union received 10, and Otzma Yehudit received 8. Blue and White and Balad face the risk of not crossing the electoral threshold.
A crisis of confidence and skepticism regarding security policies
In parallel with the electoral polarization, a June 2026 poll by the Institute for National Security Studies revealed the depth of the “crisis of confidence” among the Israeli public. The data showed a sharp decline in belief in the outcome of the recent war with Iran; 37% of Israelis believe that Tehran emerged victorious, while 43% believe the war ended without a clear victory.
The results also reflected growing concern about Washington. Sixty-six percent believe the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran harms Israel’s interests, while only 12% of respondents believe that US President Donald Trump is fully committed to Israeli security interests.
These results highlight a gap between the public’s military aspirations and political reality. While 59% of Israelis support a military operation in Lebanon—even at the risk of disagreement with the US administration—and 52% support further strikes against Iran, 81% of the population in the north expresses a sense of insecurity. This presents decision-makers in Tel Aviv with an existential challenge, combining pressures from external fronts with crises of internal stability.
