October 7 Trauma and Netanyahu Debates in Israeli Elections
Ahead of the upcoming general elections in Israel, political parties are shaping their campaigns around the October 7 attacks, while Netanyahu's political future is put to the vote.
As Israel prepares for its first general elections since the October 7, 2023 attacks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and main opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot are placing this historic event at the center of their campaigns. While deep divisions and security failures in the country determine the fate of the elections, opinion polls point to a neck-and-neck race.
October 7 at the Center of the Elections
Ahead of the general elections scheduled to take place in Israel on October 27, 2026, the attacks on October 7, 2023 form the main axis of political debates. References to these attacks are made in almost all disasters, rally speeches, and television debates.
Netanyahu's Political Future at Stake
Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's longest-serving prime minister, is accused of being responsible for the greatest security failure in history. His supporters, on the other hand, argue that Netanyahu was betrayed by the army and that he pulled the country out of its darkest days.
Massive Casualties and Regional Wars
In the attacks carried out on the morning of October 7, approximately 1,200 people lost their lives and 251 people were taken hostage. While the number of Palestinians killed in Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip exceeded 74,000, the clashes expanded to Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran.
Opposition's Promises and the Eisenkot Factor
Netanyahu's key rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, lost his son and nephew in the clashes in Gaza. The opposition promises to form a government of repair, launch an official commission of inquiry, and end military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men.
Polls and Social Reflections
More than 60 percent of voters state that their attitude toward October 7 is a central factor for their voting preferences. Polls show a neck-and-neck race between Netanyahu and Eisenkot.