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A new Israeli opinion poll published by Channel 12 after U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu found no visible rise in support for the government bloc ahead of the Oct. 27 Knesset election.

Neither the government bloc nor the opposition reached the 61 seats needed to command a majority in the 120-seat parliament, leaving both reliant on two Arab parties holding 14 seats between them.

Neither bloc reaches a governing majority

The survey, the first broadcast by Channel 12 since Trump announced his support for Netanyahu, put the opposition at 55 seats and the prime minister's government bloc at 51. A government needs the confidence of at least 61 of the 120 members of the Knesset.

Both blocs appear to need backing from two Arab parties that together hold 14 seats. The result showed that Trump's endorsement did not translate into an increase in seats for Netanyahu's bloc.

Projected seat distribution

In Netanyahu's bloc, Likud is projected to win 21 seats, while Jewish Power led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Shas are each forecast to take eight. United Torah Judaism and Religious Zionism led by Bezalel Smotrich are each projected to win seven seats.

On the opposition side, Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party leads with 24 seats, followed by Naftali Bennett's Together party with 14, Yair Golan's Democrats with nine, and Avigdor Liberman's Israel Our Home with eight.

The Joint List, representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, is expected to win nine seats and Mansur Abbas's Raam party five. Israel's People led by Ofer Winter and the Reservists party led by Yoaz Hendel are said to fall short of the 3.25 percent electoral threshold.

Eisenkot leads Netanyahu on preferred premier

When respondents were asked to choose between two candidates for prime minister, 45 percent picked Eisenkot and 33 percent chose Netanyahu. Overall turnout intention was measured at 72 percent, with motivation higher among opposition voters.

Among opposition supporters, 81 percent said they would vote, compared with 74 percent of Netanyahu's backers. The poll surveyed 507 respondents and reported a margin of error of 4.4 percent.

Trump backs Netanyahu for the Oct. 27 vote

Trump had declared support for Netanyahu in the Oct. 27 election in a social media post titled "To the Great People of Israel," describing Netanyahu as a "great fighter" and a "great peace partner" for the United States in the fight against Iran.

Addressing Iran, Trump wrote: "If they do not change their ways quickly, we will finish the job soon." He added that if Israel chose a leader other than Netanyahu, the United States would have to do the job itself, even though that was not its intention.

Netanyahu promises Ben-Gvir a senior portfolio

Netanyahu said that if he forms the government after the Oct. 27 election, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir will take one of the senior cabinet posts. Speaking at a shopping mall in Lod, in central Israel, Netanyahu responded to allegations Ben-Gvir had made about him, according to the Haaretz newspaper.

Netanyahu called the claim that he promised European leaders to leave Ben-Gvir out of the government if he wins "a lie and a perception operation," and said Ben-Gvir would receive a senior ministry. Ben-Gvir had alleged the day before that Netanyahu vowed to European leaders not to include him in the government after the vote.

The tension between the two coalition partners has risen as the election approaches. Ben-Gvir has accused Netanyahu of avoiding being seen with him and has sought the Defense Ministry in the next government, while Netanyahu said both the Defense and National Security ministries would go to Likud. Jewish Power issued a statement accusing Netanyahu of striking a deal with opposition Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot.

Key takeaways

• Channel 12's poll puts the opposition at 55 seats and Netanyahu's government bloc at 51, short of the 61-seat majority.
• Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu produced no visible seat gain for the prime minister's bloc.
• Eisenkot leads Netanyahu 45 percent to 33 percent as preferred prime minister.
• Netanyahu said far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir would get a senior post if he forms the next government.