October 7th Attacks Dominate Israeli Voter Concerns, Except for Haredim

A new poll by the Israel Democracy Institute reveals that the October 7th Hamas attacks are the primary concern for 68% of Israeli Jews when considering their vote in the upcoming Knesset elections. This sentiment is widespread across the political spectrum, with 76.5% of left-wing voters, 74% of centrists, and 66% of right-wing voters citing the massacre as a central factor. However, ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) respondents stand out as an exception, with only 26% identifying October 7th as a key election issue.

In contrast, 81% of secular Jews and 56% of religious Zionists consider October 7th a crucial factor. Beyond the attacks, foreign policy and security remain high priorities for Israeli Jews, ranked first or second by 39% of respondents. The economy and cost of living follow closely, important to 38% of voters.

The issue of Haredi conscription into the army is a significant point of contention for 27% of Jewish voters, with Haredi parties opposing it and some opposition parties demanding mandatory service. Other concerns include religion and state (26%), the personality of party leaders (23%), and the judicial overhaul, which is important to only 18% of respondents.

Among Arab respondents, the October 7th attacks are less of a primary concern, with only 32% deeming them very or fairly important. Instead, crime within their communities is the top issue for 56%, followed by the cost of living (46%) and foreign policy/security (25%).

Regarding international relations, 50% of Israelis view relations with the United States as an important voting factor, with 55% of Jewish respondents agreeing, compared to 26.5% of Arab respondents. The poll also indicated widespread concern about election interference, with 59% fearing interference from Israeli political structures and 51% from foreign powers. A majority (56%) believe it is highly probable that losing parties might refuse to accept results and resort to force.

Finally, the poll touched on recent Israeli strikes in Syria near the Turkish border, with 46% believing they were defense-motivated and 34% seeing them as primarily political. The survey was conducted between August 31 and September 3, with a margin of error of ±3.57%.