By Abdelraouf Arnaout
JERUSALEM (AA) – A recent survey conducted in Israel revealed that Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister and leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, is unlikely to win a seat in the Knesset or parliament if elections were held today.
According to a poll published on Friday by the Israeli newspaper Maariv, the Religious Zionism party is projected to fall short of the electoral threshold necessary to gain seats in the Knesset.
The survey indicated that support for the Likud party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has increased slightly in the wake of recent events, such as an attack on the premier's residence in Caesarea and the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
The results also suggested that the Netanyahu-backed coalition would win only 50 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, compared to 60 for the opposition coalition if elections were held today.
Arab representatives are projected to get 10 seats.
To form a government, at least 61 votes are required.
The survey found that if elections were conducted today, the Likud party would win 25 seats, while the opposition National Unity party, led by Benny Gantz, would garner 21 seats. The Yisrael Beiteinu party, led by Avigdor Lieberman, is projected to receive 15 seats, while the Yesh Atid party, led by opposition leader Yair Lapid, is expected to secure 14 seats.
No immediate elections are anticipated, as Netanyahu has expressed opposition to holding elections amid the ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
The Maariv report noted that the survey was conducted by the private Lazar Institute, sampling 500 Israelis with a margin of error of 4.4%.
Israel has mounted a huge air campaign in Lebanon since last month against what it claims are Hezbollah targets in an escalation from year-long cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip.
Israel expanded the conflict this year by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.
* Writing by Ikram Kouachi