A new poll conducted by the Knesset Channel and the Panels Politics Institute published today (Tue), following the leak of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef’s recordings and the Yisrael Beytenu corruption affair, gives Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri and Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman reasons for concern.

The poll shows that if the elections were to be held today, Aryeh Deri’s Shas would obtain only five seats in the Knesset, just like Yisrael Beytenu. Eli Yishai’s new party does not pass the electoral threshold, according to the poll.

The poll further shows that the leading party battle has not been settled. Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni’s joint list gains 24 seats according to the poll, while Netanyahu’s Likud gains 23. The third largest party is Bennett’s Jewish Home with 16 seats, a potential united Arab party obtains 12 seats, and Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid will have to make do with 10 seats. Moshe Kahlon’s new party Kulanu gains nine seats according to today’s poll and Merez climbs up the ladder with eight seats, the same number of seats as United Torah Judaism.

ByYael Klein/www.jerusalemonline.com