Most Israelis still do not want Netanyahu as next PM

The results of a public poll has shown that the majority of Israelis still do not want Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue to serve as prime minister and form the next government after the elections scheduled to be held on March 17.

According to the poll published by Maariv on Friday, 58 per cent of those polled said that they do not want Benjamin Netanyahu to lead the next government. However, this percentage is lower than a previous poll whose results were published on December 4, which showed that 60 per cent did not want Netanyahu to lead the next government. While on December 11, 66 per cent did not want him to head a new government.

In response to the question regarding Netanyahu’s successor, 28 per cent said they wanted leader of the Labour Party Isaac Herzog to take his place, while 26 per cent said they did not want any of those listed to take his place.

Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett received ten per cent of the votes, as did leader of the Hatnuah Party Tzipi Livni. Meanwhile, nine per cent said they would like Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid to take Netanyahu’s place, six per cent chose leader of Yisrael Beiteinu Avigdor Lieberman, and five per cent chose Moshe Kahlon, leader of the Kulanu party.

Some 72 per cent said they would certainly vote while 17 per cent they were uncertain.

In the event that elections were held today, according to the poll, the Knesset seats would be distributed as follows: Labour Party led by Herzog and Livni 23 seats, Likud 21 seats, the Jewish Home 16 seats, Yesh Atid 10 seats, Kulanu 10 seats, Yisrael Beiteinu eight seats, Yahadut Hatorah seven seats, Meretz seven seats, Arab Movement for Renewal and the United Arab List seven seats, Shas four seats, while the Shas, led by Eli Yishai, would attain four seats.

Of those who would vote for the Shas, 48 per cent said they would vote for the list led by Yishai, while 46 per cent said they would vote for the list led by Aryeh Deri.

According to this poll, the joint list between Likud and the Jewish Home would gain 38 Knesset seats while the joint list between Lapid, Lieberman, and Kahlon would receive 26. However, the joint list between Herzog and Livni would earn 24 seats.