Channel 12’s survey shows majority of Israelis support snap elections, despite vote taking place only 6 months ago, and want Gamliel to be fired as minister over her violation of lockdown rules

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has dropped to only 26 Knesset seats, with the premier’s political rival Naftali Bennett’s Yamina party trailing by only three seats, according to a poll published by Channel 12 on Tuesday.

According to the poll, Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid would snag 18 seats, Joint List keeps steady at 15, and Blue & White plummets and appears to be tied with Shas with nine seats.

energetic Naftali Bennet, tired and grump Benjamin Netanyahu
Naftali Bennett and Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: AP)

 

Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu would get eight seats if the vote was to be held today, United Torah Judaism would get seven seats and Meretz five, rounding out the list of parties that would cross the electoral threshold, currently set at 3.25%.

Following rumors about Ron Huldai mulling entering national politics in the upcoming elections, the poll showed that a party led by the Tel Aviv mayor would only receive six Knesset seats.

The survey also found the majority of respondents, 76%, think Netanyahu should fire Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel, after she violated lockdown rules and traveled 150 km to her family in Tiberias from Tel Aviv.

בחירות 2020 מצביעים קלפי קלפיות קורונה נתניה
Confirmed coronavirus pateints voting at dedicated polling stations during the March 2020 elections (Photo: MCT)

 

About half of responders, 49%, said they would support another snap election, despite the fact a national vote took place only six months ago, the third within a year. Only 30% of responders said the current government should not disband.

Among right-wing voters, 37% supported a snap election, with the majority of left-wing voters, 58%, also favoring the move.

As reported by Ynetnews