JERUSALEM, Sept 11 (NNN-MA’AN) – Polls released on Tuesday, predicted a narrow victory by Israel’s opposition party, in the Israeli elections next week.
Two separate polls released by Israel’s main TV news channels, showed that the centrist Blue and White party wins 32 seats, in the 120-seat parliament, while Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud ruling party wins only 31.
However, when asked who they believe was a better fit for prime minister, 40 percent of the interviewees named Netanyahu, while 32 percent selected Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party.
The polls showed, for the first time, that the anti-Arab party, Otzma Yehudit, might pass the electoral threshold, predicting the far-right party will win four seats.
Otzma Yehudit , or “Jewish Power” in Hebrew, was formed by adherents of the late Meir Kahana, an anti-Arab rabbi, whose ultra-nationalist Kach party was outlawed in 1994.
The Israeli elections, due to be held on Sept 17, will be the second this year, less than six months after the previous elections were held in Apr.
Netanyahu, Israel’s decade-long prime minister, called the new elections, after he failed to form a majority government coalition.– NNN-MA’AN