The poll marks a shift after four consecutive surveys in which the opposition bloc held 61 seats without relying on Arab parties. It now falls to 59 seats, while the coalition rises from 49 to 51.
Space has been left for Yashar! leader Gadi Eisenkot to join the former prime ministers' merger as well, Bennett’s office told The Jerusalem Post.
Hotovely, who served as Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom between 2020 and 2025, was unanimously approved by the government.
President Isaac Herzog said he would “fully welcome” the sides sitting down to work through the issue, in an interview with The Jerusalem Post last year.
The initiative, informally described as “Likud B,” is being advanced by right-wing figures, many of whom have had strained relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
At the start of Operation Roaring Lion, Likud held a six-seat lead over Bennett. Since then, however, Likud has lost three seats while Bennett has gained three.
The left-wing Democrats Party is composed of the Labor and Meretz parties, which merged in 2024. Dabush is expected to run for one of the reserved Meretz slots on the party’s list.
It made Israel and Saudi Arabia need each other
High Court October 7 inquiry hearing: Justices hear petitions to force the government to establish a state commission, two and a half years after the Hamas massacre.
According to KAN, Zohar’s first round of questioning on Sunday lasted for 11 hours.
In past efforts by Israel to expand control in the West Bank, the US has called for maintaining stability in the area, adding that US President Donald Trump has not backed total annexation.
