Public approves of Lapid, Gantz handling of conflict but no bump in polls

Polls taken today after three days of conflict with the Islamic Jihad in Gaza indicate that the Israeli public thinks that Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz did a good job, but the support is not translating into a bump in the polls for them.

According to a Channel 12 poll, 68 percent of Israelis think Israel won the conflict with a similar number approving of Lapid’s handling of the conflict. Gantz gets a 73% approval rating.

However, the approval is not translating into better numbers in the upcoming elections, according to surveys taken by all three major networks.

Channel 12 foresees Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud getting 34 seats and Lapid’s Yesh Atid with 24 seats.

Gantz’s Blue and White gets 12; Religious Zionism 10; Shas 8; United Torah Judaism 7; Joint List 6; Ra’am 5; Labor 5; Yisrael Beytenu 5 and Meretz 4.

Ayelet Shaked’s Zionist Spirit fails to cross the threshold.

This again leaves the 120-seat Knesset deadlocked, with the pro-Netanyahu bloc on 59 seats, the current coalition on 55, and the Joint List on 6.

Similar results are seen in Channel 13’s poll that gives Likud 34; Yesh Atid 22; Blue and White 11; Religious Zionism 11; Shas 7; United Torah Judaism 7; Joint List 6; Yisrael Beytenu 5; Labor 5; Meretz 4; Ra’am 4; Zionist Spirit 4.

This is the only poll that sees Zionist Spirit making it in, possibly giving Netanyahu a majority if they go with him, with the pro-Netanyahu bloc on 59, the anti-Netanyahu bloc on 51, and Zionist Spirit possibly playing the kingmaker with 4 seats.

The Kan public broadcaster meanwhile, forecasts Likud with 33; Yesh Atid on 23; Blue and White 12; Religious Zionism 11; Shas 8; United Torah Judaism 7; Yisrael Beytenu 6; Joint List 6; Labor 5; Meretz 5, and Ra’am 4.

This again puts the pro-Netanyahu bloc at 59, the anti- Netanyahu bloc at 55, and the Joint List at 6.