Israeli Elections
Ahead of the recent Gaza flare-up, the idea of early elections had already been floated by members of the government, as well as by members of the opposition.
Ongoing speculation revolves around the Jewish Home Party, headed by Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leaving the governing coalition.
Jerusalem will face a runoff for mayor between Ofer Berkovitch and Moshe Lion, and Haifa’s mayor of 15 years was upset by the city’s first female mayor-elect, Einat Kalisch Rotem.
Israelis headed to the polls on Tuesday to vote in municipal elections, with 863 candidates vying for mayoral positions and 3,400 people campaigning to be elected heads of regional councils.
He is doing so in the midst of legal troubles, pending controversial legislation and feuding among his top ministers.
Likud would win 32 seats, up from the 30 it holds now in the Knesset, while Zionist Union would drop to just 12, Hadashot News poll finds • Yesh Atid would win 18 seats, up from the 11 it holds today • 38 percent say Benjamin Netanyahu is best person to lead Israel.
Yesh Atid comes in at distant second with 18 seats, according to Channel 10 poll • On question of who is best qualified to serve as prime minister, 39 percent say Benjamin Netanyahu, 13 percent say Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and 7 percent say Labor leader Avi Gabbay.
Channel 20 poll projects 32 seats for Likud if election were held at this time, with 19 for Yesh Atid • Poll shows Zionist Union, Joint Arab List tying with 12 seats each • Kulanu, United Torah Judaism and Meretz parties projected to win seven seats each.
Despite ongoing investigations against the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party would receive an additional four parliamentary mandates if elections are called.
Some Israeli lawmakers see early elections as the likely outcome of Netanyahu’s legal troubles.
