Ex-army chief closing gap with Israel's Netanyahu: Poll

JERUSALEM (AA) – Former Israeli army chief Benny Gantz looks set to give Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a run for his money in upcoming polls slated for April, according to a new public opinion survey. <br> </p> <p>Conducted by Israel’s Channel 10, the poll found that 41 percent of the Israeli public plan to vote for Netanyahu, while 38 percent will support Gantz’s bid for the premiership. <br> </p> <p>A critical 21 percent, meanwhile, still remain undecided, according to results of the survey. <br> </p> <p>Two weeks ago, Gantz — who leads the recently founded Hosen Leyisrael party — announced his decision to contest the election. <br> </p> <p>A separate poll conducted by Israel’s Walla news website shows that Netanyahu’s Likud Party — if elections were held tomorrow — would likely win 32 out of 120 seats in the Knesset (Israel’s parliament). <br> </p> <p>According to the same poll, the Yesh Atid party would come in second with 13 seats, followed by Gantz’s Leyisrael party (12 seats); the Arab Joint List (12 seats); Naftali Bennett’s New Right Party (eight seats); and Ayelet Shaked’s Labor Party (eight seats).