Channel 12 Poll Shows Israeli Coalition Slumping to 50 Seats as Naftali Bennett Gains Momentum

Channel 12 poll finds Netanyahu's coalition failing to reach a majority. Naftali Bennett’s party gains as voters demand an independent October 7 inquiry.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 23, 2026, 5:13 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

Shifting Allegiances in the Israeli Electorate

The latest political barometer from Channel 12 News suggests a profound reconfiguration of the Israeli political landscape. According to the poll, the current governing coalition is far from a majority, projected to win just 50 seats in the 120-member Knesset. The Likud party maintains a lead with 25 seats, but the most notable development is the continued ascent of Naftali Bennett. His "Bennett 2026" party climbed to 21 seats, gaining ground since last week and positioning him as a primary challenger to the current administration.

The Collapse of Traditional Political Powerhouses

In a stunning turn of events, some of the most recognizable names in Israeli politics are currently polling below the electoral threshold. The survey reveals that Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism would both fail to enter the Knesset if elections were held today. This displacement suggests that voters are moving toward newer or more consolidated factions, such as Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! party, which held steady at 14 seats, and the Yair Golan-led Democrats, who are projected to secure 10 seats.

A Deadlocked Opposition Landscape

While the current coalition has slumped, the path for the opposition remains mathematically complex. The poll indicates that the opposition bloc would garner 70 seats in total; however, this figure includes the Arab-led parties Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am, who are projected at 5 seats each. Without these parties, the opposition sits at 60 seats, exactly half of the Knesset. This potential deadlock underscores the high stakes for mid-sized parties like Shas and Otzma Yehudit, both polling at 9 seats, which could act as kingmakers in any future government formation.