Kan 11 poll: Eisenkot surges past Bennett for first time, 21 vs 17 seats

The latest survey from Kan 11 and the Kantar Institute indicates a major realignment within the opposition bloc. Gadi Eisenkot, leading the "Yashar!" party, has surged by four seats since the previous poll to reach 21 mandates. This marks the first time Eisenkot has surpassed Naftali Bennett, whose "Be'yachad" party plummeted from 23 to 17 seats, its weakest showing since Bennett announced his return to political life.

Bloc Dynamics and Coalition Stability

The Likud-led coalition continues to show signs of erosion, falling to 52 seats compared to 57 for the opposition bloc (excluding Arab parties). When including the Arab parties, which hold a combined 11 seats, the anti-Netanyahu bloc reaches 68 mandates. Within the coalition, the Likud's 23 seats represent a significant decline, while Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party managed to cross the electoral threshold again with 4 seats. Other notable results include Yisrael Beiteinu rising to 10 seats and Otzma Yehudit dropping slightly to 9.

Leadership Preferences

When asked who should lead the opposition, 32% of respondents favored Eisenkot, compared to 22% for Bennett. However, in head-to-head matchups for the premiership against Netanyahu, the incumbent Prime Minister maintains a lead. Netanyahu receives 42% against Bennett's 31%, and 41% against Eisenkot's 33%. A significant portion of the public (26-27%) believes none of the candidates are suitable for the role.

Security and Foreign Policy Sentiment

Beyond domestic politics, the poll captured public sentiment regarding the emerging diplomatic track between the United States and Iran. A clear majority of 55% of Israelis oppose the reported deal, while only 18% support it. Furthermore, 70% of the public expressed continued concern over the Iranian threat despite recent developments. This skepticism aligns with the security-first posture often seen in the Israeli electorate during periods of regional tension.