4 files that decide Israel's elections... from the failure of October 7 to the high prices

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From accountability for the failures of the October 7th attack, to the future of the security strategy and the forced conscription of Haredi Jews, to the escalating burdens of living, there are many issues that impose themselves on the agenda of the Israeli parliamentary elections.

On Tuesday, Israelis began voting in the first general elections held since the attack of October 7, 2023, amid the repercussions of ongoing wars and internal divisions regarding the identity of the state and its relationship with religion, in elections that raise questions about how to address security failures, distribute the burdens of military service, and confront economic pressures, according to Agence France-Presse.

The following are the most prominent files that are the focus of the parliamentary elections:

Three years ago, many Israelis called for the formation of an official, independent investigation committee to look into the causes of the failures that preceded the attack of October 7, 2023, which caused a profound shock whose repercussions are still present in political life, society, and collective consciousness in Israel.

Opposition parties say that they will make the formation of the investigation committee a top priority if they come to power, noting that Israel has previously formed similar investigation committees following national crises. But the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects this proposal, holds the security establishment responsible for the failure to prevent the attack, and proposes instead the formation of a joint investigation committee whose members will be appointed by politicians.

As for opposition leader Yair Lapid, he believed that the goal of the proposed committee is to "exonerate (those responsible) and prevent a real investigation into the greatest catastrophe to which the Jewish people have been exposed since the Holocaust."

For decades, Israeli security doctrine has been based on three main principles: intelligence superiority, deterrence, and fighting short wars. But this equation changed after the October 7 attack, with Israel entering into long-term military campaigns on multiple fronts.

In the Gaza Strip, Israel still occupies large areas, more than two years after the start of the war, and despite the announcement of a ceasefire, it is still fragile. As for southern Lebanon, it occupies large parts of the territory, after two successive wars it fought against Hezbollah against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and the confrontation with Iran. It also advanced to areas in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's rule, and announced its intention to remain there.

In addition, Israel continues to carry out military operations in the occupied West Bank, while it is still in a state of confrontation with Iran alongside the United States, despite not participating in combat operations since the ceasefire was announced in April.

Therefore, this strategy raises questions within Israel about the army’s ability to keep its forces mobilized on several fronts at the same time. Since 2023, tens of thousands of reserve soldiers have been called up several times, often at great family and professional costs, at a time when military leaders continue to warn of a shortage in the army’s numbers.

Ofer Shelah, a researcher at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies, said: “We have moved from a policy based on deterrence and prosperity in the periods between wars, to a society that lives in a constant state of war and alert.”

In light of the shortage of personnel that the Israeli army suffers from, the controversy over the exemption of Haredi Jews from military service has turned into a broader debate about the identity of Israel and the nature of the state. Religious extremist parties seek to maintain the exemptions that allow religious institute students not to perform military service, and in doing so they enjoy the support of the Likud Party led by Netanyahu, along with its coalition partners from the far-right parties.

On the other hand, most opposition parties support ending these exemptions, and announced that they will refuse to participate in any government that includes Haredi parties. The dispute is not limited to military service, as the outgoing government, a few days before the dissolution of the Knesset, introduced measures encouraging gender segregation in some public places.

Supporters of these policies believe that they enhance the Jewish character of Israel, while their critics believe that they push the country towards expanding religious influence in public life, and do not reflect the views of the majority of the population.

The economy is a major concern for many Israeli voters; Despite economic growth, with Israel's GDP more than doubling since 2000, and the unemployment rate remaining at historically low levels, Israelis still face one of the highest costs of living in the world.

Israel is among the three most expensive countries in terms of the cost of daily basic needs, especially food and housing, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. At the same time, average wages are still lower than the average of the organization’s countries, which increases living pressures on families.

Economists believe that the rise in prices is due to chronic structural problems, including housing shortages, trade restrictions, and weak competition in key sectors. The wars also added a new challenge to the economic pressures, as the Israeli defense budget has doubled since 2023, increasing the burden on public finances, and making achieving a balance between security spending and internal needs a major challenge for the next government.