A new opinion poll shows that Israelis, for the first time since he became their leader, no longer view Benjamin Netanyahu as the most suitable figure for prime minister, with Naftali Bennett overtaking him.
The results also show Bennett is no longer the only challenger, as former general Gadi Eisenkot now outpaces both.
The findings come from a weekly poll by Maariv, conducted with Lazar Research, headed by Menachem Lazar, and Pane4ll. Respondents were asked the standard question, “Who is the most suitable political figure for the post of prime minister?”
For nearly four years, Netanyahu consistently led his rivals, even when party polling suggested his government could fall.
But in the poll published on Friday, Bennett ranked first for the first time, with 46% saying he is more suitable than Netanyahu, who scored 41%. Eisenkot also surpassed Netanyahu, with 44% compared with 42%.
When Netanyahu was excluded from the comparison, Eisenkot edged ahead, winning 33% to Bennett’s 32%, signaling growing public confidence in him.
The poll also points to a shift in the Knesset balance if elections were held now. A joint list between Bennett and Yair Lapid, announced earlier this week, would emerge as the largest party with 28 seats, ahead of Likud with 26.
A previous poll had shown the two could win 31 seats combined if they ran separately, Bennett 24 and Lapid 7, but the joint list would still be positioned to receive the mandate to form a government.
Opposition figures see the alliance as generating fresh momentum and are pressing Eisenkot to join with his party, “Yashar,” to form a bloc strong enough to defeat Netanyahu.
Eisenkot, however, is not rushing to join a lineup that would place him second to Bennett. With his popularity rising, he is waiting for further polls, and if his support continues to climb, he is expected to seek the top spot on a unified list and run as its candidate for prime minister.
The survey also shows a sharp decline for Netanyahu’s coalition, dropping from 68 seats to 50. Likud accounts for the biggest fall, sliding from 36 to 26 seats. Religious parties drop from 18 to 15, while Bezalel Smotrich’s party, currently holding 8 seats, disappears.
The only right-wing party to gain is that of Itamar Ben-Gvir, rising from 6 to 9 seats.
Jewish opposition parties would secure 60 seats, alongside 10 for Arab parties, leaving them short of forming a stable government unless they abandon their refusal to partner with Arab factions or expand their support further.
Netanyahu, however, is far from finished. He is preparing multiple strategies to counter the opposition, including efforts to reunite Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, form a new right-wing party to recover lost votes, and advance legal and administrative measures that could reduce the influence of Arab parties.
Some accuse him of preparing steps that could manipulate elections or sway outcomes using artificial intelligence.
At the same time, the opposition is reassessing its position to strengthen cohesion and avoid internal rifts. Veteran political commentator Nahum Barnea says Eisenkot is best placed to advance steadily in an election battle in a way that would be difficult for Netanyahu to undermine.
Though a former army chief of staff, Eisenkot is seen as modest, and the deaths of his son and nephew in the recent war have brought him closer to the public. Barnea notes that Eisenkot displays a quote attributed to David Ben-Gurion on his wall: “It is good for our enemies to know that Israel’s security is led by an unbreakable man.”
He projects a positive approach to regional issues. Unlike Bennett, he backs a two-state solution and the Oslo Accords. He has openly criticized the war in Iran and Lebanon, describing both fronts as failures, and his stance toward Arab parties is not marked by racism.
Barnea also recounts that “legendary pilot” Iftach Spector asked Eisenkot why he rejects forming a government with an Arab party, noting Arabs make up 20% of Israel’s population.
Eisenkot replied: “Pay attention to what I said. I said I would form a Zionist and official government. ‘Official’ includes Arabs and ultra-Orthodox Jews. Anyone joining must meet three conditions: Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, the values of the Declaration of Independence, and commitment to service, military or civilian.”
