A new poll reveals a slight decline in support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition, following his decision to dismiss Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The survey, conducted by Israel�s Channel 12, also indicates widespread opposition to Gallant’s firing.

If elections were held today, Netanyahu�s Likud party would secure 25 seats, a drop of one seat from last week�s Channel 12 poll. Benny Gantz�s National Unity party would gain 20 seats, while Yair Lapid�s Yesh Atid would receive 15 seats.

Other projected results show Avigdor Liberman�s Yisrael Beytenu with 13 seats, the left-wing Democrats (a unified bloc of Labor and Meretz under Yair Golan) with 11, Shas with 10, United Torah Judaism with eight, and far-right Otzma Yehudit, led by Itamar Ben Gvir, also with eight seats. The Arab-majority parties Hadash-Ta�al and Ra�am would each secure five seats.

The poll also shows that some parties would fail to cross the electoral threshold, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich�s Religious Zionism, newly appointed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa�ar�s New Hope, and the Arab Balad party.

In total, Netanyahu�s current coalition would receive 51 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, down significantly from its present 68-seat majority.

The survey finds that 55% of Israelis disapprove of Gallant�s dismissal, while 32% support it, with 13% expressing no opinion. Additionally, half of the respondents believe Gallant�s claim that he was removed for opposing a bill to enshrine military draft exemptions for Charedim, while 39% accept Netanyahu�s explanation of professional disagreements.

The poll also gauged public opinion on the recent U.S. presidential election, with 67% of Israelis expressing satisfaction over Donald Trump�s victory, while 18% were unhappy and 15% were undecided.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)