Tel Aviv:Israeli opposition parties are projected to win 53 seats, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc is expected to secure 51 seats in the general election scheduled for October 27, according to a recent opinion poll.

According to Anadolu Agency, the poll, published by the daily Maariv, also forecasts 12 seats for Arab parties and four for the Reservists party led by Yoaz Hendel. Neither Netanyahu's camp nor the opposition is anticipated to achieve the 61-seat majority necessary to form a government in the 120-member Knesset.

Many opposition leaders have expressed reluctance to form a coalition government reliant on Arab parties, casting uncertainty over the formation of a governing coalition. The poll indicates that Netanyahu's bloc has gained two seats since the previous survey, while the opposition has lost two, reducing the difference between the two camps to two seats.

Within Netanyahu's bloc, the Likud party is projected to obtain 19 seats, followed by Itamar Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power with nine seats. The ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, are expected to secure seven seats each, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism projected at five seats and Ofer Winter's People of Israel party at four.

Among the opposition, Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party is projected to win 21 seats, Naftali Bennett's Together 13, Yair Golan's Democrats 10, and Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu nine. The Joint List, led by Yousef Jabareen, is expected to secure seven seats, while Mansour Abbas's United Arab List would take five.

Regarding the suitability for the prime ministerial role, the poll reveals that Eisenkot leads Netanyahu with 47% compared to Netanyahu's 41%. Bennett also leads Netanyahu with 45% against 41%, while Netanyahu has a lead over Lieberman with 44% to 39%.

Despite the fact that Israel's prime minister is not directly elected, forming a government requires adequate parliamentary support. The poll highlights that a significant portion of Israelis, 67%, are worried about the possibility of a security incident similar to the October 7, 2023 attack, with 43% moderately concerned and 24% very concerned. Meanwhile, 26% are not concerned, and 7% remain undecided.

The survey was conducted by Lazar Research among 602 Israeli adults, with a margin of error of four percentage points.