Netanyahu's Likud Party Sees Gradual Recovery in Polls

An opinion poll shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party recovering gradually, projecting it as the largest single party in parliament if elections were held now. Despite losing an election held now, Likud's resurgence contrasts its performance after last year's security failures during the Hamas attacks.

An opinion poll on Friday revealed a gradual recovery for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party. The poll, published in the left-wing Ma'ariv daily, showed Likud would form the largest party in parliament, with 24 seats if an election were called now. This marked its highest score in the Ma'ariv poll since the events of October 7 of the previous year.

Despite Likud leading, Netanyahu's coalition with nationalist-religious and ultra-Orthodox parties would lose against the main opposition bloc, which secured 58 seats in the 120-seat parliament. The poll underlined Netanyahu's recovery from last year's public indignation following Hamas's incursion into Israel, which led to significant casualties and hostages.

Netanyahu's personal standing has seen a rebound, with the poll indicating greater favorability towards him compared to other candidates, excluding former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The government, despite internal coalition tensions and public protests, has remained stable, with Netanyahu managing conflicts within his party and with hardliner ministers.

(With inputs from agencies.)