What’s happening

An opinion poll suggests a setback for Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, pointing to a potential shift in Israel’s political landscape amid ongoing conflicts across the region.

Why it matters

The decrease in popular support for Likud indicates public disapproval of current policies and represents a challenge for Netanyahu’s leadership. With 53% of the public believing in Israel’s eventual victory in its conflict with Hamas but viewing the current scenario less optimistically, there might be an appetite for a change in strategic direction.

Political landscape changes anticipated

The recent survey by Maariv, as conducted by Lahav Research in collaboration with Panel4All, shows the Likud Party at an alarming dip to an anticipated 16 seat-hold in potential elections – a significant decline raising concerns for the current ruling coalition.

Netanyahu Struggles, Opposition Gains

The public’s approval of Netanyahu for the prime ministerial role has notably decreased by 5% to just 29%. In stark contrast, Benny Gantz of the Blue and White Party has seen an increase in approval to 51%. This shift could alter party dynamics drastically should elections take place.

Public opinion on the conflict

Is Israel winning against its adversaries? In terms of public morale, the survey sheds light on the polarized belief with only a small fraction confident in proclaiming a ‘big win’, while the majority seem cautiously optimistic or unsure of the conflict’s trajectory.

Political Actions and Reactions

Specific breakdowns of the survey among party voters display a discernibly higher optimism among coalition party voters compared to a more pessimistic outlook from opposition voters.

Electoral Implications

Beyond Likud, the broader political scene might undergo significant shifts, with the Blue and White Party emerging as the largest, according to the poll, and other political factions such as Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beiteinu maintaining a considerable number of mandates.

Bottom line

The poll reflects a potential reconfiguration of political power in Israel, with Netanyahu’s Likud Party in a precarious position while public opinion-at-large navigates through a critical examination of leadership in times of conflict.

This story was first published on jpost.com.