Jerusalem:A recent Israeli opinion poll has shown that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political bloc is losing traction ahead of the legislative elections scheduled for October 27. The poll suggests that Netanyahu's bloc would secure 48 seats, three less than previous projections, while the Jewish opposition bloc is expected to win 54 seats.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the poll was published by the Maariv newspaper and highlights that neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition would be able to form a government independently, as forming a government requires at least 61 seats in the Knesset. The Jewish opposition's anticipated seats include 21 for Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party and 15 for Naftali Bennett's Together party, among others.

Moreover, the poll indicates that Arab parties would gain 14 seats, with nine for the Joint List and five for the United Arab List. The Reservists party, led by Yoaz Hendel, is projected to win four seats, though it remains unclear which bloc it would support. The decline in Netanyahu's bloc's seats is partly attributed to the failure of the 'Your Israel' party to meet the electoral threshold.

The poll also explored preferences for prime minister, showing Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett leading over Netanyahu in popularity. Eisenkot garnered 49% support compared to Netanyahu's 41%, while Bennett received 45% versus Netanyahu's 43%. The results suggest a preference among Israelis for a unity government if no clear election outcome is achieved, with 60% supporting this option.

As the election date approaches, the poll reflects the complex political landscape in Israel, with potential for another election round if the deadlock remains unresolved. The survey was conducted by the Lazar Research Institute, sampling 580 Israelis with a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points.