Poll Puts Eisenkot Ahead of Netanyahu for Prime Minister

A new Direct Polls survey found Gadi Eisenkot narrowly ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu on suitability to serve as prime minister, 47% to 44%. Likud remained the largest party with 28 seats, while Eisenkot’s Yashar rose to 22; the Democrats had 11, Beyachad and Shas nine each, and Religious Zionism six. The current coalition bloc stood at 58 seats, while the opposition together with the Arab parties reached 62. The poll sampled 550 Israeli adults on July 16 through a digital system and panel and was described as representative of the general population.