88% of Bayit Yehudi voters polled rate Naftali Bennett’s handling of the recent terrorist prisoner release “good or moderate” as opposed to only 12% who feel he mishandled the matter. In addition, 62% of the party’s voters believe Bennett’s version of events as opposed to 15% who believe Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s version is correct. The poll conducted by Panels Politics was commissioned by the Knesset Channel.

Despite the turmoil in the media that followed the release of 26 Arab terrorists from prison, Bayit Yehudi would still earn 16 seats if elections were held today. Bayit Yehudi has 12 seats in the current Knesset.

The other parties as follows:

· Likud/Beitenu 30 (31 today)

· Labor 17 (15 today)

· Yesh Atid 13 (19 today)

· Meretz 11 (6 today)

· Shas 9 (11 today)

· Yahadut Hatorah 6 (7 today)

· The Movement 5 (6 today)

· Arab Parties 11 (11 today)

· Kadima 2 (2 today)

It would appear that at least in the eyes of the dati leumi voter, Bennett knows what he is doing and they are more or less pleased with his performance.

Interestingly, the dati leumi voter feels the Bayit Yehudi partnership with Yesh Atid is preferable to a deal with the chareidim. 33% of the party’s voters approve of today’s situation while only 25% prefer to see the party partnered with chareidim.

When asked to explain why one voted for Bayit Yehudi, the response was:

· 52% because of the party’s political platform

· 46% because of the religious/traditional character of the party

· 55% add because Bennett is a successful high-tech professional

Who is the most popular Bayit Yehudi MK

· 28% say Bennett

· 17% Uri Orbach and Ayelet Shaked

· 13% Uri Ariel

· 10% Orit Struk

· 5% Nissim Slomiansky

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)