Full Breakdown
Israelis' Sense of Security Ahead of the 2026 Election
By Drooid · · How we work
Election Context and Public Anxiety
Israel’s upcoming general election falls on the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, a date that continues to dominate public discourse. The war in Gaza has resulted in “more than 73,000 Palestinians” killed, a figure repeatedly cited in coverage of the conflict.
Perceived vs. Actual Security Landscape
He notes that Hamas’s capabilities are “severely diminished,” Hezbollah is “struggling to hold out,” and Iran’s military is “hugely depleted.” Despite these assessments, many Israelis feel less secure than before October 7, 2023, citing failures of intelligence services and a more aggressive settler movement that has turned the occupied West Bank into a “tinderbox.”
Political Framing and Official Remarks
These statements reinforce a narrative of perpetual threat that both frontrunners, Netanyahu and Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, use to mobilize voters.
Criticism and Opposition Views
He also highlights internal divisions between the governing coalition and opposition groups over the handling of the war’s diplomatic and security fallout.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Even when certain parties tried to shift the dial and centre on the economy, or any other issue, it didn’t work. It is too existential in a country entangled in war and conflict, and even stronger now, following the trauma of October 7,” — Ayala Panievsky
- “After the approaching elections, the losing camp will feel very insecure. There already is an atmosphere of terror [for] the opposition,” — Lev Grinberg, a professor of sociology at Ben Gurion University