Polls & Research

Likud First, Kadima Second in Israel

- Likud is now the most popular party in Israel, according to a poll by Teleseker published in Maariv. The results suggest Likud, led by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, would win 29 seats in the next election to the Knesset.

The governing Kadima party of prime minister Ehud Olmert would finish second with 16 mandates, followed by the Labour party of Amir Peretz with 15 mandates, and Israel Our Home under Avigdor Lieberman with 14 seats.

In March, Israeli voters renewed the Knesset. Kadima, founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon and led by Olmert, secured 29 seats. Labour, the Retired People's Party (Gil) and the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) joined Kadima in a coalition. Last month, the Israeli cabinet approved the addition of Israel Our Home to the government. Olmert's coalition now has the support of 78 of the Knesset's 120 members.

On Oct. 18, at the Knesset's opening session, Netanyahu criticized the current administration, saying, "Three months ago, we received our wake-up call with the outbreak of war in Lebanon and the massive rocket fire. Did anyone learn the lessons from the Lebanon war? The answer, I am afraid to say, is no. (.) Today we understand the thing my comrades and I were talking about, that Iran is a real threat to our existence, and that its allies in the south of Israel and in the north of Israel are a threat to our cities and communities."

Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Ariel Sharon's cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan."

Polling Data

Prospective results of a Knesset election
(Results presented in seats)