Labor/Livni neck and neck with Likud

Isaac Herzog, Israel Business Conference
Isaac Herzog, Israel Business Conference

The latest "Globes"-Smith poll shows that Kahlon, Liberman and Lapid could decide who will form the next government.

With 89 days to go before the Knesset elections, the latest poll conducted for "Globes" by the Rafi Smith Institute sees Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud and Isaac Herzog/Tzipi Livni's joint Labor/Hatenua list running neck and neck. Each party is predicted to win 23 mandates in the next Knesset, roughly the same as the last "Globes" Rafi Smith poll two weeks ago, although the Likud has gained one seat and Labor/Hatenua has lost one.

The poll found the split in Shas hurting the haredi party, which falls to eight seats from nine. This also hurts Netanyahu's hope of forming a coalition with Naftali Bennett's Habayit Hayehudi (steady on 16) and the Shas and United Torah Judaism (steady on 7) haredi parties.

As things are shaping up, Netanyahu will be required to form a coalition with Moshe Kahlon and his new party (9), Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid (up one to 8) and Avigdor Liberman's Yisrael Beitenu (down one to 9) - three men with whom he has his differences. So Kahlon, Liberman and Lapid could decide who will form the next government.

The poll also shows breakaway Shas leader Eli Yeshai failing to win any seats, while Meretz has gained one more mandate to six seats and the Arab parties remain on 11 seats.

In addition, the poll found the public's preferred choice for prime minister narrowing with 39% saying that Netanyahu is suited to become prime minister and 35% saying that Herzog is suitable, while 26% said that neither were suited or did not know.

Poll results

If the election were held today for which party would you vote?

(Results in terms of Knesset seats, first the current poll, conducted on December 17, followed by the result of the December 4 poll, and, in parentheses, the number of seats in the current Knesset).

Likud 23, 22 (31)
Yisrael Beitenu 9, 10 (-)
Yesh Atid 8, 7 (19)
Labor/Hatenua 23, 24 (21 together)
Habayit Hayehudi 16, 16 (12)
Shas 8, 9 (11)
United Torah Judaism 7, 7 (7)
Meretz 6, 5 (6)
New party under Moshe Kahlon 9, 9 (-)
Hadash 5, 5 (4)
Ra'am-Ta'al and National Democratic Assembly 6, 6 (7)

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 18, 2014

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014

Isaac Herzog, Israel Business Conference
Isaac Herzog, Israel Business Conference
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