Tel Aviv  - The hardline Likud party of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is maintaining its lead against Israel's ruling, centrist Kadima movement, two weeks before elections are due in the country on February 10, an opinion poll published Wednesday said.

According to the poll published on Israel's Channel 10 television, the Likud is likely to become the largest party in the 120-seat Knesset and obtain some 28 mandates, against 25 for Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's Kadima.

The Labour Party of Defence Minister Ehud Barak, currently the second-largest faction in the Israeli parliament after Kadima, could come in only fourth with 14 mandates, fewer even than the ultra-right Israel Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) which can expect some 15.

The Likud and Kadima tied shortly before Israel's 22-day Gaza offensive, but the right-wing party reopened its lead in the aftermath of the war.

Channel 10 commissioned the Dialogue polling institute for the poll. It did not immediately give a margin of error, but one of 3. 5 or 4 per cent is common for most polls by the institute. (dpa)