Full Breakdown
Israeli Public Backing a State Inquiry and Haredi Conscription Grows Ahead of 2026 Election
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Survey Findings
A survey by the Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute (Oct 5-8) sampled 602 Jewish and 149 Arab Israelis 18+. 72 % of Jewish respondents support legislation requiring ultra-Orthodox men to enlist, and 71 % favor a state commission of inquiry into the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Support for conscription was highest among left-leaning Jews (93.5 %) and center voters (89 %); right-leaning respondents backed it at 62 %.
Background & Context
The Oct 7 massacre remains a central issue for the Oct 27, 2026 election. A state commission of inquiry, provided for by the Commissions of Inquiry Law, is the usual mechanism for probing national crises, previously used after the Yom Kippur War and the Sabra-Shatila massacre. The Netanyahu government has resisted a state commission, arguing that an inquiry could not start while the war continued and later questioning public trust in a commission chaired by a Supreme Court judge. Instead, it pursued a private-member’s bill for a politically appointed commission, which stalled before the Knesset’s dissolution.
Data & Statistics
| Issue | Jewish Support | Arab Support | Overall Support* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haredi conscription law | 72 % | – | – |
| State commission of inquiry | 71 % | – | 74 % (all Israelis) |
| Settlement policy (allowing settlements) | 55 % favor | 50 % oppose | – |
| Equal treatment for settlement products | 63 % overall | ~50 % of Arab respondents favor other countries’ right to restrict imports | – |
| Credibility of pre-attack warning reports | 46 % say not credible, 43 % say credible (overall) | – | – |
| Belief reports aim to influence election | 63 % overall | – | – |
\*Overall figures combine Jewish and Arab respondents.
Official Statements & Responses
The government defended its reluctance to create a state commission, citing ongoing hostilities and concerns about public confidence in a Supreme Court-appointed body. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced the closure of the UK consulate in east Jerusalem after the UK, Canada and France imposed sanctions on settlement goods. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described the sanctions as a response to Israel’s “illegal expansion of occupation.”
Public Opinion on Settlement Sanctions
The poll found 63 % support for a strong Israeli response and equal treatment for settlement goods and other Israeli products. Roughly 70 % of Jewish respondents backed demanding equal treatment, while about half of Arab respondents endorsed the right of other countries to restrict such imports.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Respondents were split on the credibility of reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received warnings from senior Arab figures before Oct 7. 46 % deemed the reports not credible, 43 % considered them credible, and 63 % believed the timing was intended to influence the upcoming election. The survey does not include non-voting populations and lacks detail on the private-member’s commission proposal.
What’s Next
Campaigns are expected to highlight the commission issue, with several parties pledging to establish a state commission as a first act. The election outcome will determine whether public preference for an independent inquiry translates into legislative action, potentially redefining Israel’s approach to accountability for the Oct 7 attack.