Young Israelis Prioritize Security, Economy in First Election
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
A poll of young Israelis aged 18-22 shows a fragmented political landscape, with security and economy as top voter concerns. Unlike national trends, no single party dominates among youth, with several parties clustered around 9% support. First-time voters, shaped by recent crises including the October 7th attack, express diverse priorities, from settlement expansion to civil rights and educational reform. Personal accounts highlight the profound impact of security events and the desire for effective leadership.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Young Israelis aged 18-22 show a fragmented political preference, unlike their parents' generation.
- Security and the economy are the primary concerns for first-time voters in Israel.
- No single party dominates the youth vote, with several parties receiving similar levels of support.
- First-time voters are influenced by recent events, including the October 7th attack and ongoing conflict.
- Arab youth prioritize combating crime and violence within their community, alongside economic issues.
- A new ultra-Orthodox party surprisingly passes the electoral threshold among young voters.
A new poll of 18- to 22-year-old Israelis reveals a distinct political landscape compared to their parents, with security and the economy emerging as top concerns for first-time voters. The survey, conducted by Dialog for the Amanat Pro group for Ynet and Yediot Ahronot, sampled 543 young people and indicated a high likelihood of participation, with 67% certain they will vote.
Unlike national polls showing a tight race between Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu, the youth vote is fragmented. Parties like Yachad, Otzma Yehudit, and Yisrael Beiteinu each garnered around 9% support, translating to 16 mandates for Yachad and 15 for the others. Religious Zionism-Identity and Likud followed with approximately 8% each, or 14 mandates. Israel Beiteinu, Democrats, United Torah Judaism, and the Joint List each received about 5% of the vote, securing nine mandates, except for UTJ with eight. The United List of Reservists and the Economic party received 6 mandates (4%), while a new ultra-Orthodox party, previously not crossing the threshold, secured 5 mandates (over 3%) among young voters.
Notable parties failing to pass the electoral threshold among this demographic include Shas, Ra'am, Am Israel (Ofer Winter), and Blue and White. The survey also highlighted differing priorities among subgroups: secular youth leaned towards Yachad (20%), Yisrael Beiteinu (18%), and Democrats (17%), while religious youth favored Religious Zionism-Identity (36%) and Otzma Yehudit (22%).
Personal testimonies underscore the impact of recent events. Eli Botelman, an 18-year-old survivor of the October 7th Hamas attack in Kibbutz Nir Oz, cited security and cost of living as his primary concerns, expressing a desire to live without fear. Yonatan Bar, also 18, from Shlomi, who was evacuated during the war, trusts the IDF but not the government, emphasizing the need for leadership that won't abandon the north. Hadar Perulich, 18, an activist from the settlement of Beit El, prioritizes settlement expansion for security and sovereignty, leaning towards Smotrich. Shaked Pelet, 18, from Rehovot, is considering Ben Gvir, focusing on issues like harsh conditions for terrorists and capital punishment, but also wants educational reform. Gabriella Trowan, 20, from Tel Aviv, whose uncles were murdered on October 7th, plans to vote for the Democrats, blaming the government for the tragedy and advocating for a political solution.
Bassil Agbaria, 18, from Umm al-Fahm, a communist youth activist, is voting for the Joint List, prioritizing the eradication of crime and violence in the Arab community, alongside cost of living and equal opportunities. He believes greater Arab representation in the Knesset is crucial for influencing decision-making. The article notes the absence of an ultra-Orthodox youth perspective due to several individuals declining to participate.
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