Latest poll shows Netanyahu easily winning new election

A new poll has found that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would easily win a fifth term as premier if new elections were held today.

The poll, conducted by Panels Politics for Walla! news site, shows Likud winning 35 seats, which would constitute the party’s largest Knesset presence since 2003.

A long way behind in second place was former minister Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party, on 17 seats, with the Labor-dominated Zionist Camp ticket securing just 11 seats (down from its current 24).

The Joint List faction would win 12 seats according to the poll, while Meretz would win seven.

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Education Minister Naftali Bennett’s Jewish Home would win ten seats, while Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu would win five.

A new faction led by Lieberman’s erstwhile party colleague MK Orly Levy would also get five seats, while Moshe Kahlon’s Kulanu would win six seats.

Netanyahu insisted yesterday he would not be seeking elections before the end of the Knesset’s term in November 2019.