Netanyahu's coalition is on course to lose its majority in Israel's election next week as Eisenkot's party takes poll lead
Benjamin Netanyahu faces a deadlocked election on 27 October, with Arab parties holding enough seats to hand the opposition a majority if it joins forces with them.
Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar is projected to take 22 Knesset seats on Tuesday, two ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud on 20. The Netanyahu bloc has slipped from 52 projected seats in September to 50, while Eisenkot's change bloc holds steady on 53. A separate survey of 4,000 Israelis puts Netanyahu's camp at 52 to 54 seats, short of the 61 required. Benny Gantz's exit has scattered his voters across the field.
Eisenkot has ruled out governing with Arab parties, who could hold the balance of power.
Ex-Netanyahu adviser Aviv Bushinsky: 'The wars against Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah will continue.'
Election chiefs tried to ban both Arab-majority parties before the Supreme Court stepped in.
