Nine percent of Israelis have switched political blocs since the 2022 election, with former opposition voters more likely to cross between the camps than coalition supporters, according to a new Kantar poll conducted ahead of Tuesday’s Knesset elections.

Among those who previously voted for opposition parties, 15% have moved to the other bloc, compared with 6% of those who supported coalition parties.

The survey also found substantial movement between parties within the same political camp. Just 30% of respondents overall said they expect to vote for the same party they backed in 2022, while 37% have shifted to another party within their bloc. Another 7% remain undecided.

Party loyalty differed sharply between the two camps. Among coalition voters, 62% intend to support the same party again, compared with just 11% of opposition voters. Meanwhile, 60% of opposition voters have moved to another party within their bloc, compared with 37% of coalition voters.

The findings reflect changes in Israel’s political landscape since the last election, including the emergence of Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party and Naftali Bennett’s Beyachad party.

Security and economic concerns dominate voters’ priorities nationwide. Personal and national security, together with the war, ranked first at 26%, followed by the cost of living and the economic situation at 23%.

Protecting democracy and the rule of law followed at 12%, while drafting Chareidim and equalizing the burden of military service ranked at 9%. Establishing a commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre and preserving Israel’s Jewish identity each received 8%, while advancing judicial reform received 7%.

The breakdown by political bloc revealed sharply different priorities.

Among coalition voters, security led with 37%, followed by preserving the country’s Jewish identity at 20% and advancing judicial reform at 16%.

Among opposition voters, the cost of living ranked first at 28%, followed by protecting democracy and the rule of law at 18%, drafting Chareidim at 17%, and establishing an October 7 commission of inquiry at 16%.

Despite the movement between parties and blocs, both camps reported strong intentions to participate in Tuesday’s election. Eighty percent of coalition voters and 82% of opposition voters said they were certain they would cast a ballot.

The poll was conducted online by Kantar on October 21–22 among 1,110 adults representing Israel’s population aged 18 and older, including the Arab sector. The maximum sampling margin of error was 3%.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)