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Friday, November 28, 2025
Poll: Opposition maintains 61-seat bloc as draft-exemption debate shifts political map
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Israel’s opposition continues to outpace the governing coalition, holding a 61-seat majority — enough to form a government without relying on Arab parties — for the second consecutive week, according to a new Maariv survey.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennet leads the opposition, with his Bennett 2026 party holding 22 seats.
The coalition — made up of Likud (25), Otzma Yehudit (9), Shas (8), and United Torah Judaism (7) — stands at 49 seats.
The poll suggests that heightened public debate surrounding the government’s controversial draft-exemption bill may be reshaping voter sentiment.
The newly established Reservists’ Party, led by former communications minister Yoaz Hendel, crosses the electoral threshold this week, earning 4 seats. Meanwhile, Benny Gantz’s Blue and White, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism, and the Palestinian nationalist party Balad once again fail to cross the threshold.
The survey also shows strong public backing for IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir in his public spat with Defense Minister Israel Katz: 41 percent of respondents said Zamir was in the right, compared to just 20% who sided with Katz. Another 39% were unsure.
On the question of preferred prime minister, current premier Benjamin Netanyahu narrowly leads Bennett, 43% to 41%. Netanyahu’s margin widens against other potential contenders, including Gadi Eisenkot (43-38%) and Avigdor Liberman (46-32%).
The poll was conducted November 26-27 among 500 Jewish and Arab adults, with a margin of error of 4.4%.
The Times of Israel Community.