Poll: Likud losing support
If elections held today, Kadima would win more seats in Knesset than current coalition leader, says survey. Shift linked to frayed relations between Netanyahu, US
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party would lose to centrist Kadima if elections were held today, according to an opinion poll published on Friday by Yedioth Ahronot newspaper.
According to the poll, Likud – currently the coalition leader – would increase its representation in the Knesset to 29 seats, up from 27, but would trail after Kadima by three seats.
The paper linked the shift against Likud to frayed relations between Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama over Israel's continuing settlement expansion in the West Bank, but did not present findings on Netanyahu's personal popularity.
It said a majority of 64 percent felt that the current coalition's policies "do not represent" their wishes.
The poll, conducted by Mina Zemah and Dahaf Institute said Kadima, which currently has 28 seats in the Knesset, would extend its lead to 32 seats if voters were balloted now.
Likud and Kadima fought a cliff-hanger election last year that gave right-wing and nationalist parties a majority in the 120-seat parliament, paving the way for Likud to form a governing coalition.
The poll predicted that right-wing and nationalist parties would maintain a majority in the Knesset with 63 seats, down from 65 seats.
According to the poll, the Labor Party headed by Defense Minister Ehud Barak would see its representation fall to eight seats, down from 13 seats.
