If Israeli elections were held today, former Defense Minister Naftali Bennett's Yamina party would surge to 25 parliament seats, just three behind the Likud, a new poll published by i24NEWS on Monday night revealed.
The right-wing politician has been breathing down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's neck in recent months, as polls indicate growing dissatisfaction with the ruling party's conduct during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Bennett's colleague and former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked stressed this week that her party's leader "should be the next prime minister."
Answering a direct question who is most fit to serve as the Israeli premier, 29% replied that Netanyahu should be the prime minister, with Bennett coming in second with 19%.
And while the race between the Likud and Yamina tightens, the right-wing bloc surged to 70 mandates, leaving the center-left far behind with 33 seats.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party gained 15 seats, according to the poll, with Defense Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz's Blue and White retrieving some of its popularity loss with 12 seats.
Left-wing party Meretz polled with six seats, and Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu party closed the list with five.
This article was first published by i24NEWS.
