Poll shows neither Netanyahu nor Sa’ar would have clear path to govern in March 23 General Election

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) –
While Israel has seen months of ongoing bitter protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a new poll shows that Likud would still win most seats in the March 23 election, and that arch-rival New Hope would still need the PM to form a coalition. The fourth election in two years was called after Likud and Blue and White were unable to agree on a budget before the December 23 deadline, the Times of Israel reports.

For six months now, thousands of people have people have taken to the streets demanding Netanyahu’s resignation over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and over his trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.

Nevertheless, the survey conducted for Israel’s TV Channel 12 showed Likud would win 28 seats and Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope would win 19 in the upcoming election.

According to the survey, the results for the remaining parties would be: Yesh Atid-Telem 16, Yamina 13, Joint List 11, eight each for Shas and United Torah Judaism, Yisrael Beytenu seven, and five for both Blue and White and Meretz, the Times of Israel reports.

Once a party or coalition has 61 of the 120 Knesset seats available, it can form a government. However, even if his party were in the lead, Netanyahu would still have his work cut out to form a coalition with only 28 seats: while the Israeli left-wing bloc has been decimated over the years, the right-wing is deeply divided – including over whether Netanyahu should be allowed to continue his decade-long rule.

In an interview with Channel 13 Sunday night, Netanyahu’s main rival Sa’ar said he would refuse to join a coalition led by the PM. “I intend to replace Netanyahu… Under no scenario will I join a government led by him, because his continued rule is contrary to the good of the state and we won’t compromise on that,” Sa’ar said.

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