Winter, Smotrich cross electoral threshold at expense of Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, Kan poll shows

A new Kan election poll indicates shifts in Israeli political support, with Ofer Winter's People of Israel and Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism parties gaining ground, crossing the electoral threshold at the expense of Likud and Otzma Yehudit. Likud dropped to 21 seats, and Otzma Yehudit to seven. The Joint List surpassed Otzma Yehudit in projected seats. The opposition bloc saw a slight decline from 57 to 55 seats, while the coalition bloc increased from 51 to 52 seats. Prime Minister Netanyahu, in an interview, urged Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism to merge, stating, “There is about a week to allow for a merger. It is very possible that everyone can unite.” He also expressed concern that Winter's party could “either waste votes or cause one of the parties I mentioned to fall.” Winter, in response, rejected claims his party threatens the right-wing bloc, asserting that other issues, such as “kites from Gaza,” pose greater dangers.