POLL: The Likud returns to be the biggest political party
Several changes would take place in the Israeli political map if elections were to take place today.
By ARIK BENDERPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Amidst the storm of closing the public broadcasting corporation, and reports that it could threaten to take down the government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received some good news.According to a poll taken by Rafi Smith on Friday for Israel Radio, if elections were to take place today, the Likud party would return to be the biggest political party, ahead of Yesh Atid headed by Yair Lapid. Previous polls showed Yesh Atid the leading political party.According to the poll, the Likud would receive 26 mandates- a downturn from the 30 mandates they have today. Yesh Atid would receive 21 mandates as opposed to the 11 mandates they have currently. The Zionist Union, which enjoys 24 mandates currently, takes a dive to just 13 mandates according to the poll, similar to the Joint Arab List.Education Minister Naftali Bennett's party, Bayit Yehudi, rises from 8 to 12 mandates. Yisrael Beytenu increases from 6 to 8, Shas stays at 7, just like United Torah Judaism who receives a further MK as opposed to the 20th Knesset.Moshe Kahlon's efforts have apparently not left a good impression on voters, as his party, Kulanu, decreases to just 7 mandates instead of 10. Meretz, in the previous elections feared not passing the threshold and gained five mandates, enough to pass. In the current poll they receive six.According to the poll, the parties constructing the current coalition would receive 67 mandates in the elections, one more than they currently hold.