An opinion poll in Israel, the results of which were published on Friday, revealed a radical shift in voters' mood, with 55% of respondents calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to retire from political life permanently and not run in the upcoming elections.
The findings deepen the crisis in Netanyahu , who has been at the helm of the leadership for decades, amid a sharp internal division and a decline in confidence in the ability of the current right-wing coalition to lead.
Coalition Camp Erosion
According to data published by the Israeli newspaper Maariv, the ruling coalition camp has lost its momentum significantly, dropping to only 49 seats.
The decline was driven by the loss of one seat each by Likud and the extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir party compared to last week.
Although Shas holds out and is likely to win an additional seat, the overall figures suggest that the ruling coalition will not be able to form a stable government if elections are held today.
The opposition. Towards an "Absolute Majority"
On the other hand, the opposition forces continue to consolidate their positions, as their strength has risen to 61 seats, a figure that gives them the ability to form a government and cross the threshold of deciding within the Knesset.
Gadi Eisenkot's Yachar party emerged as a key player, registering an additional 16 seats, reflecting growing confidence in figures with a security and military background under the current circumstances.
"Third Power" alliances
The poll dealt with scenarios that could completely tip the balance of power, most notably the formation of a joint list called "Together" that includes the three poles (Bennett, Lapid, and Eisenkot).
The results showed that this broad alliance will win 49 seats alone, making it the striking force in the political arena.
The poll also indicated the emergence of new formations, such as the "reserve" list led by Yoaz Hendel and Chile Tropper, which succeeded in exceeding the decisive percentage by 4 seats, adding a new complexity to the future of the alliances.
Timing Significance and Survey Methodology
The poll, conducted by the Lazar Research Institute on May 12-13 , 2026, comes at a critical time marked by political anticipation.
The sample included 502 participants representing all spectrums of Israeli society (Arabs and Jews). The results confirm that the legacy of the 2021 coalition (Bennett-Lapid) is still present in the memory of voters as a possible alternative, despite the deep challenges it previously faced in the files of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.