A clear view of Israel’s electoral landscape has yet to emerge, even as the country speeds toward the upcoming January 22 election. While polls have been consistent in describing the race’s broad contours — a strong center-right Likud and a fractured political left — the composition within those blocs continues to shift. Political newcomer Naftali Bennett’s Jewish Home/National Union (JH/NU) alliance has been surging, and operatives inside the Likud are increasingly expressing fears that the party will take away voters from its right. In response the Likud, which is led by incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, recently launched ads starring its relatively conservative candidates. A Smith/Israel Radio poll published today suggests the party will win 36 seats in Israel’s 120-seat Knesset, marking a three-seat erosion in the tracking poll. Israel’s Labor party is now projected to finish second with 19 seats.

[Photo: Alan Cleaver / Wiki Commons]