Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Likud Pollster: Likud Beitenu and Right-Wing/Religious Parties Strong; Labor and Livni Collapse

Likud Beitenu dropped a few seats since the Bennett debacle, but remains steady at 36 projected seats, according to a survey conducted by Professor Avi Degani of Geocartographia, the Likud Party's pollster.

The survey found Likud Beitenu with 36 while HaBayit HaYehudi (Jewish Home) dropped by nearly 3 mandates to 12.5, since last week's 16 projected seats. On the other side of the aisle, Degani found the Labor party losing support, dropping to 14 mandates. Hatnu'a (The Movement) party led by Tzipi Livni collapses literally from 8 mandates to 4.5. 

The problem for Netanyahu is that the extra votes are being picked up by a variety of small parties. The largest party to benefit was Shas, which showed a jump up in support to 12 mandates, Meretz, which receives six mandates, for the first time and Yesh Atid, which got 10 seats. Strong Israel would get 4 seats and Ale Yarok, who are for legalizing marijuana 3 seats, well above the threshold needed to enter the Knesset.

Shaul Mofaz/Kadima Party is history, at the time being.