JERUSALEM

Support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition has weakened significantly after the controversial dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the approval of a law exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews from mandatory military service, according to a new poll published on Friday.

The Maariv newspaper, citing the poll conducted by the Lazar Institute, reported that the Netanyahu-led coalition is projected to hold only 49 seats in the Knesset (parliament), while opposition parties are expected to have 61 seats.

Additionally, 57% of respondents disagreed with Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss Gallant, with only 29% supporting it.

The survey indicates that if elections were held today, Netanyahu’s Likud party would secure 24 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.

The opposition National Unity party, led by Benny Gantz, is expected to win 19 seats, while Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid would secure 15 seats.

Meanwhile, Religious Zionism, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has fallen below the 3.25% electoral threshold for the second consecutive week, effectively eliminating it from the Knesset.

The poll's findings reflect growing discontent with Netanyahu's policies. Public outrage over the exemption law, which exempts ultra-Orthodox men from mandatory military service, has fueled criticism across Israel, where many see the law as favoring one segment of society at the expense of others.

Israel has continued a devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip since an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on Oct. 7, 2023. The onslaught has killed nearly 43,500 victims and rendered the enclave almost uninhabitable.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the blockaded enclave.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi