With just over two months to the elections, the latest "Globes" Rafi Smith poll, conducted yesterday just after the Zionist Camp (Labor/Hatenua) primaries, finds voters slowly gravitating towards the two largest parties. Since the last poll two weeks ago, Labor has gained one seat up to 25, and the Likud has risen two seats to 24.
Prime Minister and Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu has been lucky. Despite a lackluster campaign and no achievements to show, events are falling his way: the upheaval in Shas, the terrorist attacks in Paris, and the left-leaning list of the Labor/Hatenua party are all contributing seats to the Likud.
Labor leader Herzog and Netanyahu aren't really fighting each other. The biggest immediate threat to the Likud is Naftali Bennett's Habayit Hayehudi. Every vote gained by Habayit Hayehudi is probably from the Likud and vice-versa. Since the last poll Habayit Hayehudi has lost one mandate and slipped to 15.
Avigdor Liberman's Yisrael Beitenu continues to lose altitude as the graft scandal bites, while Shas has gained some ground after the upheavals of the past few weeks. Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu and Meretz have both lost seats.
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 January 14, followed by the result of the December 30 poll, and, in parentheses, the number of seats in the current Knesset).
Labor/Hatenua 25, 24 (21 together)
Likud 24, 22 (31)
Yisrael Beitenu 6, 7 (-)
Yesh Atid 9, 9 (19)
Habayit Hayehudi 15, 16 (12)
Shas 8, 7 (11)
United Torah Judaism 7, 7 (7)
Meretz 6, 7 (6)
Moshe Kahlon Kulanu 9, 10 (-)
Hadash 6, 6 (4)
Ra'am-Ta'al and National Democratic Assembly 5, 5 (7)
Yahad Eli Yeshai 0, 0 (0)
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 15, 2015
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2015