Likud would be clear winner in Israeli elections, new polls show

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party “would emerge as the largest party in Israel in the next Knesset if elections were held now”, according to two new polls, reported Haaretz

The first poll, conducted by the Israel Television News Company, showed Likud winning 30 seats, ahead of Yesh Atid on 21 seats, and the Labour-dominated Zionist Camp with 13 seats.

The Joint List would get 12 seats, Jewish Home 11, Meretz would get seven seats, United Torah Judaism seven, and the centrist Kulanu seven.

Current coalition partner Yisrael Beiteinu, headed by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, would only win four seats, as would Shas.

Read: Netanyahu damaged, but Likud still in front, Israel poll finds

A second poll by Channel 10, meanwhile, had Likud gaining 29 seats, with Yesh Atid on 24, and had the Joint List in third place with 13.

Both the Zionist Camp and Jewish Home would get 11 seats, Meretz would win nine, Kulanu six, United Torah Judaism six, Yisrael Beiteinu six, and Shas five.

The results of both polls were published Monday, on the same day that Netanyahu told the Knesset he was confident Likud would win any new elections.