Next week the lists of candidates in the Central Election Commission will be closed, and the latest polls may cut the final party map, after long days of running around and negotiations between the parties, which will probably culminate in the second half of next week – just before the midnight deadline.
The survey was conducted among 504 respondents, who are a representative sample of the adult population in Israel. The sampling error is 4.4 percent up or down.
The survey examined what the outcome would be in the case of extensive unifications in the left-wing bloc, with Merav Michaeli, Ron Huldai, Ofer Shelach, Yaron Zelicha and Boogie Ya’alon compiling one list. In such a case, the United List will receive 13 seats. The Likud remains with 28, while Gideon Saar drops to 12.
The connections work
What will happen, another survey examined, if at the last minute Gideon Saar and Naftali Bennett unite into one joint list? In such a case the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts and the two will receive 25 seats. In such a case, the Likud will receive 27 seats.
And what will happen if Yair Lapid and Ron Huldai decide to cooperate and formulate one list? In such a case, the list will get 19 seats according to the poll. Although the gap from the Likud still remains large, it is narrowing. Gideon Saar in such a case will receive only 11 seats.
Gideon Saar’s decline is not only reflected in the number of seats his party receives “new hope”, but also in the question of suitability for prime minister.
After the election campaign opened when for many weeks Gideon Saar stood after Netanyahu, this week there was a change in the sector, with Iir Lapid bypassing Saar on the left and getting 18% of the respondents that he is suitable for forming the government. Saar, who has so far led after Netanyahu, received only 15% this time. Bennett is not far behind with 12% on the question of fit. Of course, Netanyahu is also leading now with 44%.
The focus – the economy
The survey examined what is on the agenda of the citizens when it comes to electing their next leadership in the new Knesset. Unsurprisingly, the economic issue is the most critical. 39% of opinion leaders said that this issue will have the greatest impact on how they vote. Surprisingly the issue of Corona care is not a high priority. Only 8% said the plague treatment would cut their vote. 19% said the identity of the party leader would affect their vote. 18% marked the issue of religion and state. 16% said that the issue that will affect them the most is the political-security issue.
The Prime Minister promised at the beginning of the current closure that within a few months we would emerge from the crisis, following the great vaccination campaign. It turns out that the public is divided on the question of getting out of the crisis in the next six months. 49% expressed optimism, while 51% were pessimistic. Religious, traditional and ultra-Orthodox have expressed optimism in larger classes.
