Hendel-Zelekha crosses electoral threshold in new KAN poll, complicating coalition possibilities

SEPTEMBER 7, 2026 01:11Updated: SEPTEMBER 7, 2026 01:43Yoaz Hendel of the Unity Party and Prof. Yaron Zelekha would cross the electoral threshold with four seats in the upcoming election, according to a new KAN News poll published Sunday evening.The survey follows the split between Chili Tropper and Hendel, who announced Sunday that they were pursuing “separate political paths.” Their party, Zionist Home-The Reservists, has consistently polled below the electoral threshold.Following his split from Tropper, Hendel announced that he would run jointly with Zelekha, an Israeli economist and political figure who heads the New Economic Party, which has also consistently failed to cross the electoral threshold.Tuesday, September 8th is the final deadline for political parties to submit their official candidate lists for the upcoming national elections.With Hendel and Zelekha’s party projected to enter the Knesset, neither the Netanyahu bloc nor the Eisenkot bloc would have enough seats to form a government on its own, potentially forcing both sides to seek additional coalition partners after the election.Gadi Eisenkot, Yashar leader, speaks at meeting about plan to make aliyah and absorption easier. (credit: Yashar! Party)According to the poll, the Netanyahu bloc would hold 52 seats, while the opposition bloc would hold 51 seats.Both blocs fall short of 61-seat majorityWith Hendel and Zelekha’s party included, the poll projects the Netanyahu bloc at 56 seats and the Eisenkot bloc at 55 seats, leaving both sides short of the 61 seats needed to form a government.The poll showed that Likud (20), Yashar led by Gadi Eisenkot (23), and B’Yachad led by Naftali Bennett (13) each lost seats compared with previous polls. The Democrats, Otzma Yehudit, United Torah Judaism, and the Joint Arab List also each lost one seat.Ra’am and the Religious Zionist Party both gained strength, rising to six seats each.Eisenkot still leads in suitability for prime ministerEisenkot continues to lead Netanyahu and Bennett on questions of suitability for prime minister. Among respondents, 38% said Eisenkot was more suitable for the role compared with 35% who chose Netanyahu. Netanyahu led Bennett by 37% to 32%.Respondents were also asked about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conduct on the morning of October 7, against the backdrop of a KAN News report stating that he spoke with the IDF chief of staff only three hours after Hamas’s attack began. Sixty-two percent gave Netanyahu a “not good” rating for his conduct that morning, while 26% said his conduct was “good.”The poll was conducted on September 6, 2026, by the Kantar Institute. A total of 2,450 people were invited to participate, of whom 551 men and women aged 18 and older responded. The poll was conducted through an online sample and also included Arab sector respondents. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.2%.Shir Perets and Keshet Neev contributed to this report.Follow us on Google