A Changing Political Map: Dramatic Polls in Lebanon and Turmoil in the Israeli Political System

[68444] A Changing Political Map: Dramatic Polls in Lebanon and Turmoil in the Israeli Political System

A Changing Political Map: Dramatic Polls in Lebanon and Turmoil in the Israeli Political System

The polling landscape of May 19, 2026, presents a changing situation in two central arenas. In Israel, an i24NEWS and Direct Polls survey points to the loss of the right-wing bloc's majority, as the political map undergoes turmoil. According to the analysis, Gadi Eisenkot emerges as the "tie-breaker" and manages to draw mandates directly from the Likud, while the union between Bennett and Lapid suffers a significant decrease in its power.

Tzuriel Sharon, CEO of Direct Polls, notes that the right-wing bloc has dropped to 60 mandates, which constitutes the first loss of the lead in a year. Commentators at Political Arena added that this is a quiet but consistent trend moving voters from the right-wing bloc to the center-left, and positioning Eisenkot as a dominant alternative to Netanyahu.

At the same time, the results of a comprehensive poll by the Lebanese Al-Jadeed channel were published, examining public positions toward Israel. The data indicates a deep split: according to Kan 11, while the Shiites overwhelmingly oppose any form of contact with Israel, other populations in Lebanon, including Druze and Christians, express surprising support for peace agreements and the disarmament of Hezbollah.

According to Al-Jadeed channel data, about 58.2% of the Lebanese public support the disarmament of the organization. Sapir Lipkin emphasizes that this is a poll that "Hezbollah does not want you to see," as it reveals widespread support among certain sects for limited normalization and even meetings at senior levels, in stark contrast to the official position of the Shiite establishment.