A new Kan News poll conducted by the Kantar Institute shows Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! party overtaking Likud to become Israel’s largest party, even after Likud completed its primaries and finalized its Knesset slate.

According to the poll, Eisenkot’s party would win 24 seats, while Likud would receive 23. The current coalition bloc would hold 52 seats, the opposition 57, and the Arab parties 11 — leaving neither major bloc with the 61 seats needed to form a government.

The poll gives Beyachad 14 seats, the Democrats 10, Otzma Yehudit and Yisrael Beiteinu nine each, United Torah Judaism eight, Shas seven, Hadash-Ta’al six, Ra’am five and Religious Zionism five.

Several parties would fall below the electoral threshold, including the Tropper-Hendel party at 2.9%, Balad at 2.1%, Erdan-Edelstein at 1.6%, and Blue and White at 1.4%.

The survey also examined voter reaction to the Likud slate selected in this week’s primaries. Overall, 44% said the new list was no different from the previous one, 18% said it was better, 14% said it was worse and 24% were unsure. Among respondents planning to vote Likud, 41% said the new slate was an improvement.

Respondents were also asked which ministers who failed to secure realistic positions on the Likud slate would be missed most. Avi Dichter led with 10%, followed by Nir Barkat at 9%.

Meanwhile, 62% of respondents opposed reserving a spot on the Likud slate for Religious Zionism chairman Bezalel Smotrich. Just 14% supported such a move, while 24% said they did not know.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)