The opposition would still command a 61-seat majority if elections were held now, despite a one-seat dip, according to a Maariv poll published on Friday and conducted by Lazar Research, headed by Dr. Menachem Lazar, with Panel4All.
The survey, carried out November 19–20, found that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition would gain 49 seats, the opposition bloc led by figures such as former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot (National Unity Party) would gain 61 seats, and Arab parties would gain 10 seats.
The poll included 504 adult respondents and has a margin of error of 4.4 percent, Maariv reported.nz
The poll was released amid disputes over the haredi draft law and calls to establish a commission of inquiry into the October 7 events.
Despite the draft debate, the Reservists’ Party led by Yoaz Hendel remained below the electoral threshold. Yesh Atid held steady at 9 seats even after retired IDF Maj.-Gen. Noam Tibon joined the party.
Public split on Saudi normalization, firmly opposed to Palestinian state
Asked whether normalization with Saudi Arabia is worth any erosion of Israel’s qualitative military edge due to advanced US arms for Riyadh, 24% said it is worth it, 47% said it is not, and 29% did not know.
Regarding a future Palestinian state, as referenced in recent UN deliberations, 17% expressed support, 67% opposed, and 16% were undecided.
Draft law preference and sense of personal security
If the government’s survival depended on passing a more lenient haredi draft law, 33% preferred approving such a law to keep the government in place, while 51% favored defeating the bill and going to elections, and 16% did not know.
On personal security, just over a third (34%) said they feel less safe in recent weeks, 16% said they felt more safe, 42% reported no change, and 8% did not know.