Likud conference
Likud conferenceIsrael news photo: PR

A survey released Friday morning by Maariv shows the right solidly in the lead as elections approach. However, 25% of voters remain unsure who they prefer – and most of the undecided are on the left.

The poll by Maagar Mochot is one of several released in recent days as the elections heat up. Like surveys by Israel Radio and Yisrael Hayom, it showed Likud Beytenu firmly in the lead.

Maariv’s poll showed Likud Beytenu with a particularly strong lead of 38 seats, compared to 35 and 36 in other polls. Unlike the Yisrael Hayom poll, it showed the center-left parties Labor, Yesh Atid and Hatnua failing to pose a challenge to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu: between them, the parties had only 31 seats.

Labor remained in second place with 16 seats, while Yesh Atid had 8 and Hatnua had 7. Kadima was seen passing the minimum vote threshold with three seats.

A full fourth of those surveyed said they are still unsure who they support in the elections. The undecided were likely to be on the left, with many supporting Yesh Atid or Labor. However, 40% said they do not plan to vote, indicating that whatever the rest decide, they are unlikely to tip the balance in favor of the left.

Other poll results included: Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) with 13 seats, Shas with 12, the three majority-Arab factions Hadash, Ra’am Ta’al and Balad with a total of 10 seats, Yahadut Hatorah at 6 seats, Meretz at 5, and the Otzma Leyisrael and Am Shalem factions failing to cross the threshold to enter Knesset.