In turnaround, TV poll shows Netanyahu’s bloc slightly ahead of opposition

Times of Israel ^ | 09/17/2026 | Staff

[thegagline]

Coalition wins 54 seats in survey, opposition Zionist bloc just 52, but neither side has clear path to coalition; Herzog says he’ll do everything he can to prevent a second round of voting.

In a turnaround, a new poll projects that parties supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would make up the largest bloc in the Knesset if elections were held today.

The Channel 13 survey was the first among the major news networks to indicate a result of this sort since the start of the election campaign.

At the same time, Netanyahu did not have a clear path to a Knesset majority even in the latest poll.

According to the survey of 886 respondents, with a margin of error of ±3.3%, the presumed pro-Netanyahu bloc would win 54 seats, compared with the opposition bloc’s 52, and the Arab parties would clinch 14.

Though Netanyahu’s bloc appeared to be strengthening, his own party was not, with Likud winning only 18 seats compared to 22 for Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar.

Last week’s poll on Channel 13 showed the blocs tied at 53 seats each, while other polls have previously shown the opposition bloc in the lead. No poll has yet shown either side reaching a clear majority, on the assumption that Arab parties would not join any government.

***

Likud’s poll result of 18 marked the lowest ever for the ruling party in a Channel 13 poll. Last week the channel gave Likud 19 seats and Yashar 22 seats. *** Netanyahu is on trial in three corruption cases. He faces charges of fraud and breach of trust in Case 1000 and Case 2000, and charges of bribery, as well as fraud and breach of trust in Case 4000. The trial, which began in 2020, has divided the country along political lines.***

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: israel; netanyahu; poll; winning

[thegagline]

Netanyahu is doing what needs to be done with the Muslim terrorists. Hopefully, the upcoming election goes his way.

If you want to gain insight as to the constant threats that Israel faces as well as the numerous military actions it is engaged in order to survive, Aljazeera has constant updates [with the understanding that Aljazeera is decidedly anti-Israel- read with a jaundiced eye]

The link updates daily

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/9/17/iran-war-live-trump-says-us-nearing-end-of-war-claims-tehran-direct-talks

[allendale]

Five hundred years from now Netanyahu will be in the pantheon of Jewish leaders.

[Uncle Miltie]

This’ll drive ‘em crazy.

[thegagline]

Five hundred years from now Netanyahu will be in the pantheon of Jewish leaders.

Agreed. Five hundred years from now Netanyahu will be in the pantheon of great Jewish leaders. And if Lee Zeldin becomes president in 2028, he potentially will be included in that list.

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

El Rush-Bo often pointed out several truths about polling. Even the serious polling companies would jook the stats months before the election. As they got closer to the actual election day, they would “tighten up” their polling. Some of their final polls were supposed to be closer to the truth.

One of the glorious exceptions is the 2016 Billary guaranteed to win polls. On that wonderful 26 minute The Young Turks 2016 video, they are quoting New York Slimes and others “90% sure Billary will win.” It is most amusing that some of those touting “90%” for sure” are still out there “polling.”

[qam1]

Getting a country many times the size of his to give him 100s of billions and do his bidding is quite an accomplishment

[Opinionated Blowhard]

I am glad that Netanyahu is pulling ahead but this seems like more of last hurrah than a new start. I have been a huge fan of Netanyahu since the 1980s but he really needs to step aside and make way for new Likud leadership. He carries a lot of baggage that has created damage both internally and on the international stage - once again, I say this as a huge fan of his. He has to know when to step off the stage and that time is now, hopefully after his party wins this election. He needs to go out on top, not holding on until he is defeated, which will come if he doesn’t know when to quit.

[montag813]

Bennett is a weak sister, and Eisenkot would be worse than Ariel Sharon - removing tens of thousands of Jews from Judea and Samaria at gunpoint, while appeasing the PLO. It’s sad to say - because like Vitkor Orban failed to do, Bibi should have groomed a successor years ago - but he remains the only sane choice.

[monkeyshine]

Israelis pollsters do what American pollster do, only worse. They don’t even publish the data or the tabulations. They use rigged polling data to get headlines in the hopes of pushing the public. But as they get closer to election they start to show the race “tightening” in the attempt to salvage what little credibility they have left.

So this does not surprise me. Only a few weeks until the election. Right now, if I were an Israeli, I’d probably vote to keep the status quo. Netanyahu has neutralized Hamas, has just about neutralized Hezbullah, and has helped the US neuter Iran. He just got Congress to pass a strong defense pact to the benefit of his country. Why would they want to change quarterbacks at the 10 yard line? Once everything is pacified - even if just temporarily - then they can decide whatever domestic matters need addressing and dissolve the government if need be.

[ridesthemiles]

POLLS ARE ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON WHO THEY ASK

[Fledermaus]

🥱