Do Israelis feel safer since October 7? Explore Israel’s security, regional wars, public opinion and the issues shaping the 2026 election.
Do Israelis Feel Safer Now Than They Did on October 6, 2023?
As Israel approaches its next general election on October 27, 2026, one question continues to dominate public debate: Do Israelis feel safer today than they did before the October 7, 2023 attacks?
Almost three years after the Hamas-led assault, national security remains one of the most important issues shaping Israeli politics. The election comes at a time of continuing debate over the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, tensions with Iran, military service for the ultra-Orthodox community, economic pressures and questions over who should be held responsible for the security failures surrounding October 7.
Recent polling suggests that security and foreign policy remain particularly important to Jewish Israeli voters. A September 2026 survey found that 68 percent of Jewish respondents considered October 7 a central factor in deciding which party to support. The same survey found that optimism about Israel’s national security had fallen to 34 percent.
Israel’s Security Situation After October 7
Israel’s military has significantly changed the regional security landscape since October 2023. Hamas has suffered major losses, Hezbollah has faced sustained Israeli military pressure, and Iran has been involved in direct confrontation with Israel and the United States.
Supporters of Israel’s military strategy argue that these developments have reduced the capabilities of several armed groups that previously posed serious threats. Israel has also established or expanded military buffer zones in areas near its borders.
From a purely military perspective, some Israeli security analysts therefore argue that Israel is in a stronger position than it was immediately before October 7.
But military strength and public feelings of safety are not necessarily the same thing.
Do Israelis Actually Feel Safer?
Survey evidence paints a more complicated picture.
An Israeli national security survey conducted in May 2026 found that only 26 percent of respondents rated the country’s national security situation as good or very good, while 34 percent rated it as poor or very poor. Compared with the period before October 7, respondents believed that Israel’s security situation had deteriorated on the Lebanon, Iran and West Bank fronts.
In June, Lebanon and Iran remained the two security arenas causing the greatest concern. Eighty percent of respondents said they were concerned about the security situation involving Lebanon, while 76 percent expressed concern about Iran. In addition, 81 percent said the security situation in northern Israel did not provide sufficient safety for residents.
These figures highlight the central contradiction in Israeli politics: Israel may have greater military capabilities in several areas while many Israelis still do not feel completely secure.
October 7 and the Question of Accountability
The October 7 attack also damaged public confidence in Israel’s political and security institutions.
The attack exposed serious failures in intelligence, military preparedness and decision-making. Nearly three years later, the question of who was responsible remains politically divisive.
The Israeli government has faced continued pressure to establish an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding October 7. In July 2026, the Knesset approved a bill in its first reading proposing a state-national commission of inquiry into the attack and the events that followed. The proposed structure and appointment process have themselves become subjects of political disagreement.
For many voters, accountability is therefore closely connected to national security. The debate is not simply about what happened in 2023, but about whether Israel’s political and security institutions can prevent another major attack.
Security Is Also Shaping the Election
The upcoming Israeli election is being fought against this background of fear, military confidence and political division.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to present his government’s military record as evidence that Israel has become stronger against regional threats. His political opponents, meanwhile, have argued that the country must address the failures that preceded October 7 and reconsider aspects of its security and diplomatic strategy.
Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot is leading the Yashar party, which is campaigning on issues including national security, military and national service, and strengthening Israel’s institutions.
At the same time, the debate over ultra-Orthodox military service has become increasingly significant, adding another layer to Israel’s internal security and political tensions.
A More Complicated Sense of Security
So, do Israelis feel safer than they did on October 6, 2023?
The evidence suggests there is no single answer.
Israel has demonstrated substantial military capabilities and has weakened several of the armed groups that threaten it. However, public surveys show continued concern about Iran, Lebanon, the West Bank and other regional fronts. The October 7 attack also created a lasting sense of vulnerability and weakened confidence in the institutions responsible for national security.
