Poll shows margin between Likud and Labor diminishing

The Labor party and its chairwoman, Shelly Yachimovich, are gaining on the reigning Likud party and current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a poll released Friday.

The survey, which was published in Yedioth Ahronoth, shows that in the upcoming elections, the Labor party was liable to win 21 seats, up from 18 seats in earlier polls and 13 in the last elections. The Likud party, meanwhile, was shown as likely to slide slightly to 25 seats from its current 27 – significantly narrowing the gap between the parties.

“Netanyahu’s government has reached the end of the road,” Yachimovich said at a press conference earlier this week. “This government is unable to make any advances toward diplomatic negotiations and peace, or on economic and social policy.”

Earlier this week, following following Kadima’s decision to leave the coalition government, Yachimovich called for early elections, saying that Israel had witnessed “the end of an extremely repulsive political circus”. However, the proposal was voted down in the Knesset.

The survey also showed Yisrael Beytenu on 13 seats, Yair Lapid’s new Yesh Atid party at 13, Shas on 10, Kadima on 7, National Union on 6, United Torah Judaism on 4, Meretz, 4, the National Religious Party/Jewish Home on 4, the Arab parties on 11, and Ehud Barak’s Independence party on 2.