It appears that the net effect of Tzipi Livni’s announcement that she’s running as the head of a new movement named after her (The Movement Led by Tzipi Livni is the official name, which probably limits the possibility of competition for chairmanship there at this time) has been to drive the Likud-Beiteinu list up a little bit at the expense of both the right and the center. And, as was to be expected, Livni’s votes are siphoned off of Labor’s and Kadima’s. One winner on the left: Meretz, which continues a slow rise from its current 3 seats. Finally: Torah Judaism will definitely increase its power from 5 to 6 seats in the next Knesset, based on sheer demographics alone.
The Meretz rise, according to Haaretz which published the poll, is that leftist voters have given up on Labor’s chances to actually form a coalition government, and so they choose to vote their heart rather than compromise needlessly.
And a similar sentiment is emerging on the right, as voters, secure in a Likud-headed government, seek to bolster its right-wing flank with a vote for Power to Israel (MKs Eldad and Ben-Ari).
So here are the numbers as of this morning, Wednesday, Nov. 28:
Likud-Beiteinu: 39 (was 35, current Knesset mandate 42)
Labor: 18 (was 23, current Knesset mandate 13)
Shas: 11 (was 14, current Knesset mandate 11)
Yair Lapid: 8 (was 13, current Knesset mandate 0)
Jewish Home (NRP): 8 (was 9, current Knesset mandate 7)
Tzipi Livni: 7 (was 0, current Knesset mandate 0)
Torah Judaism: 6 (was 6, current Knesset mandate 5)
Meretz: 5 (was 4, current Knesset mandate 3)
Rabbi Amsalem: (was 3, current Knesset mandate 1)
Kadima: 2 (was 5, current Knesset mandate 28)
Eldad & Ben-Ari: 2 (was 0, current Knesset mandate 2)
