Polls Suggest Netanyahu’s Likud Could Lose 18 to 19 Knesset Seats

A Palestinian source, citing recent polls in the occupied territories, said Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party could lose 18 to 19 seats compared with its current 32. According to the source, the Yashar party led by Gadi Eisenkot would win 22 seats.

The source added that forming a cabinet in the 120-seat parliament requires at least 61 seats; however, based on these figures, the opposition bloc would have 53 seats, while Netanyahu’s alliance with the Haredi parties would secure 51 to 54 seats.

According to the Palestinian source, these numbers show that forming a coalition would be difficult for the opposition. He claimed that Netanyahu is trying to create a political deadlock to prevent the opposition from forming a coalition and to remain in place as prime minister while the cabinet continues to function.