Poll: Center-Left Alliance Could Win Israel Vote
A center-left coalition in Israel could oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud from power in a snap election scheduled for March, a poll said Tuesday.
Previous surveys predicted a fourth term in office for Netanyahu and gains for his rightwing Likud, which could usher in an even more hardline government than the premier's outgoing right-leaning coalition.
The new poll by parliament TV, published by the Maariv newspaper, said an alliance of the Labour party with the centrist HaTnuah party of former justice minister Tzipi Livni could gain 23 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Likud is projected to win 21.
Another poll by news website Globes put the figure at 24 for Labour-HaTnuah and 23 for Likud.
Local media have reported discussions on a possible grouping between Livni and Labour leader Isaac Herzog, as well as center-right Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid.
Netanyahu fired Livni and Lapid from their respective posts as justice and finance minister last week before calling for an early election, which parliament on Monday set for March 17.
Commentators say the center and left parties would have to join forces to defeat Likud, which could also ally itself with far-right, Jewish nationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties.
A bill passed in March raising the number of votes parties need to gain representation in parliament is likely to deprive Livni of her seat, according to poll figures.
Labor would win 17 votes if it stood alone.
Source: Agence France Presse
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