A public opinion poll showed Friday that Israel’s opposition could secure the 61 seats needed to form a government if elections were held today, while 55% of Israelis prefer that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu retire from politics, according to the Israeli Maariv newspaper.
The poll was conducted by the private Lazar Institute among a random sample of 502 Israelis, with a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.
“Asked what they want Netanyahu to do in the next election — run for Likud leadership or retire from political life — 55% said they prefer that he retire, while 38% said they want him to run for Likud leadership, and 7% said they do not know,” the newspaper said.
According to the poll, the opposition would be able to form an alternative government if elections were held today.
Maariv said that amid continued uncertainty in the war on Iran, renewed sinking into the Lebanese quagmire, and Israelis’ concern over rising violence within their society, Likud, led by Netanyahu, and Otzma Yehudit, led by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, lost seats this week.
