Ex-army chief closing gap with Israel's Netanyahu: Poll

JERUSALEM (AA) - Former Israeli army chief Benny Gantz looks set to give Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a run for his money in upcoming polls slated for April, according to a new public opinion survey.

Conducted by Israel’s Channel 10, the poll found that 41 percent of the Israeli public plan to vote for Netanyahu, while 38 percent will support Gantz’s bid for the premiership.

A critical 21 percent, meanwhile, still remain undecided, according to results of the survey.

Two weeks ago, Gantz -- who leads the recently founded Hosen Leyisrael party -- announced his decision to contest the election.

A separate poll conducted by Israel’s Walla news website shows that Netanyahu’s Likud Party -- if elections were held tomorrow -- would likely win 32 out of 120 seats in the Knesset (Israel’s parliament).

According to the same poll, the Yesh Atid party would come in second with 13 seats, followed by Gantz’s Leyisrael party (12 seats); the Arab Joint List (12 seats); Naftali Bennett’s New Right Party (eight seats); and Ayelet Shaked’s Labor Party (eight seats).