Gantz preferred as prime minister over Netanyahu in unity gov't – poll

The News 13 poll also gave Blue and White 34 seats and Likud 33 if a third election was held now; both blocs they would lead were tied at 56, with Israel Beytenu remaining the kingmaker.

Reuven Rivlin, Benny Gantz and Benjamin Netanyahu meet on September 23, 2019. (photo credit: HAIM ZACH/GPO)
Reuven Rivlin, Benny Gantz and Benjamin Netanyahu meet on September 23, 2019.
(photo credit: HAIM ZACH/GPO)
As the prospect of yet another election looms, a poll released on Tuesday’s evening News 13 broadcast gave the Blue and White Party led by Benny Gantz 34 seats, while Likud got just 33. The Joint List came in third with 13 seats, followed by Israel Beytanu with eight.
The ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, both received seven seats each, while Labor and the right-wing parties would each get only five. The poll also ties the New Right with the Democratic Union, with four seats for each party.
According to the poll, both blocs remain at a stalemate of 56 seats, with Yisrael Beytenu remaining kingmaker.
The poll also revealed that Gantz beats Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 46% to 40% as to who is preferred to serve as prime minister if there is a unity government, with 14% not expressing a preference.
Some 37% of those polled believe that Netanyahu would be to blame if another election is called, 30% believe that Gantz and Netanyahu would equally be to blame and 21% said they would blame Gantz alone. Some 8% said that no one would be to blame and 4% did not know.