A new Israel TV News12 poll provides an indicator as to how well Gideon Saar will fare if he runs against Binyamin Netanyahu in a party leadership race. The poll was taken with 15 days remaining until the Knesset is dissolved and elections for the 23rd Knesset declared, which will occur if a coalition government is not formed by the expiration date.

Saar, a former senior Likud official who took a hiatus from political life, has returned, and views himself as the successor to the veteran party leader, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

If elections for Knesset were held today, Blue & White would be the largest party with 34 seats, as compared to Likud’s 33 seats. The third largest party remains the Joint Arab List with 13.

Shas 8
Yahadut Hatorah 8
Yisrael Beitenu 9
New Right 6
Labor/Gesher 5
Democratic Camp 4
Bayit Yehuda fails to enter Knesset, with only 2.9% of the vote
Otzma Yehudit fails to enter Knesset, with only 2.2% of the vote

Blocs
Left-wing/Arabs 56
Right-wing/chareidi 55
Yisrael Beitenu 9

If Likud was running with Gideon Saar at the helm
Blue & White 35
Likud 26
Joint Arab List 13
Shas 10
Yisrael Beitenu 9
New Right 9
Yahadut Hatorah 8
Labor/Gesher 6
Democratic Camp 4
Once again, Bayit Yehudi and Otzma Yehudit fail to enter Knesset, with 2.9% and 2.2% of the vote respectively.

Blocs
Left-wing/Arabs 58
Right-wing/chareidim 53
Yisrael Beitenu 9

Who is more suited to serve as PM; Benny Gantz or Binyamin Netanyahu?
40% Netanyahu
39% Gantz
14% Neither
7% Don’t know

Who is more suited to serve as PM; Benny Gantz or Gideon Saar?
40% Gantz
23% Saar
24% Neither
13% Don’t know

Do you agree with Gideon Saar, who claims Netanyahu will not be able to form a coalition after the next election?
54% Agree (41% among right-wing voters & 77% among left-wing/centrist voters)
26% Do not agree (40% among right-wing & 7% among left-wing/centrist)
20% Don’t know (10% among right-wing & 16% among left-wing/centrist)

The poll was conducted by Manu Geva and the Midgam Institute involving 510 respondents 18 and over. The poll was conducted by phone and internet on November 26, 2019, with the margin of error being +/- 4.4%.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)