Ankara:Israel's opposition parties are projected to win 52 seats compared to 51 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, according to a recent poll, just 23 days before the elections set for October 27.

According to Anadolu Agency, the poll, conducted by Israeli public broadcaster KAN, indicates that neither political camp is poised to secure the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party is leading with 23 seats, closely followed by Netanyahu's Likud with 21.

Naftali Bennett's Beyahad party is expected to win 12 seats, while the Democrats, led by Yair Golan, and Jewish Power are both anticipated to secure eight seats. The joint Religious Zionism-Zehut slate, led by Bezalel Smotrich, is projected to receive six seats.

For the first time in weeks, Ofer Winter's Amcha Yisrael party is not expected to surpass the electoral threshold. Among Arab parties, the Joint List has risen to eight seats after Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh withdrew from the Knesset race, while the United Arab List, known as Ra'am, is maintaining five seats.

KAN noted that the opposition's 'change bloc' remains unable to form a 61-seat coalition without the support of Ra'am. This poll was released as Israel's Central Elections Committee ruled that Netanyahu used soldiers in prohibited election campaigning and ordered him to cover 29,000 shekels (approximately $9,000) in legal expenses.

The Knesset ceased operations on July 17 following its decision to dissolve ahead of the upcoming elections. Netanyahu, who has led the government since late December 2022, is currently facing corruption charges and an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.