This week we had eight public polls released by four pollsters examining the future seat distribution.

Bennett Outperforms Lapid, Gantz, Eisenkot in Head-to-Head Against Netanyahu

A Channel 12 poll shows Bennett as the closest contender to Netanyahu, while Eisenkot, Lapid, and Yossi Cohen trail the Prime Minister by double digits. Channel 14 likewise ranks Bennett as the leading candidate against Netanyahu. In another key Channel 12 survey among opposition voters, Bennett receives the highest share of support when asked who should lead the challenge to Netanyahu. The scenario polls consistently show that while opposition parties struggle to draw voters from Netanyahu’s bloc, Bennett is the only candidate managing to do so.

The Fight to Pass the Electoral Threshold

In four of the eight polls, both Gantz and Smotrich fail to cross the electoral threshold; in only two polls do they both succeed. A Zman Israel survey shows that if Gantz drops out, two-thirds of his voters would shift to Bennett. Meanwhile, a Maariv poll finds that if Eisenkot runs with a separate party, the Netanyahu bloc gains one seat.

Poll #PollsterDateNumber of PeopleMargin of Error
1Takiata / Zman IsraelAug 25–26, 20254044.8%
2Filber / Channel 14Aug 28, 2025524N/A
3Midgam / Channel 12Aug 28, 20255094.4%
4Panels/Lazar / MaarivAug 27–28, 20255004.4%
5Achord / Hebrew UniversityAug 28, 2025913 total (490 right, 202 center, 221 left)N/A
Party / Bloc#1A Gantz#1B No Gantz#2 Filber#3A Eisenkot#3B Yossi Cohen#4A Bennett#4B Bennett+Eisenkot#4C Bennett+Eisenkot+Miluim
Likud2728342424232324
Bennett2629152019252221
Yisrael Beiteinu111191010121110
Democrats1111911111099
Shas991188888
Yesh Atid88877987
UTJ77877777
Otzma Yehudit77677788
Ra’am66555666
Hadash–Ta’al44555555
Blue & White4452.8% (under)2.6% (under)41.8% (under)1.8% (under)
Religious ZionismUnder ThresholdUnder Threshold542.3% (under)442,8% (under)
Eisenkot–––1212–97
BaladUnder ThresholdUnder ThresholdUnder Threshold2.5% (under)2.5% (under)2.3% (under)2.5% (under)2.5% (under)
Scenario––––Yossi Cohen
5		––Miluim 8
Bennett Bloc6059466064605962
Netanyahu Bloc5051645046495047
Arab Bloc1010101010111111
Poll #QuestionResult
Takiata / Zman IsraelSupport for Gantz’s “Hostages Government” idea55% oppose, 35% support, 9% no opinion
Filber / Channel 14Who is most suitable for PM?Netanyahu 47%, Bennett 21%, Eisenkot 18%, Lieberman 8%, Lapid 4%, Gantz 2%
Midgam / Channel 12PM Suitability – Netanyahu vs BennettNetanyahu 39%, Bennett 37%, Neither 20%, Don’t know 4%
Midgam / Channel 12PM Suitability – Netanyahu vs EisenkotNetanyahu 40%, Eisenkot 30%, Neither 25%, Don’t know 5%
Midgam / Channel 12PM Suitability – Netanyahu vs LapidNetanyahu 42%, Neither 33%, Lapid 22%, Don’t know 3%
Midgam / Channel 12PM Suitability – Netanyahu vs Yossi CohenNeither 40%, Netanyahu 37%, Yossi Cohen 14%, Don’t know 9%
Midgam / Channel 12Opposition voters – who should lead against Netanyahu?Bennett 35%, Eisenkot 19%, Lapid 10%, Golan 10%, Lieberman 9%, Someone else/Don’t know 8%, Yossi Cohen 5%, Gantz 4%
Panels/Lazar / MaarivEffect of protests on hostage release45% harm, 23% help, 23% no effect, 9% don’t know
Panels/Lazar / MaarivCoalition voters view on protests80% harm, remainder split
Panels/Lazar / MaarivOpposition voters view on protests40% help, 23% harm, 28% no effect, 9% don’t know
Panels/Lazar / MaarivIs the government indifferent to will of people and fate of hostages?49% yes, 40% no, 11% don’t know
Achord / Hebrew UniversityNetanyahu resignation views – Right54% shouldn’t resign, 24% resign after war, 22% resign now
Achord / Hebrew UniversityNetanyahu resignation views – Center62% resign now, 25% resign after war, 13% shouldn’t resign
Achord / Hebrew UniversityNetanyahu resignation views – Left94% resign now, 5% resign after war, 1% shouldn’t resign