# Israel election: October 7 failures, military conscription and cost of living top voters’ concerns > Israel voters weigh military conscription, cost of living and October 7 investigation ahead of October 27 elections. - Title: Israel election: October 7 failures, military conscription… - Summary: Israel voters weigh military conscription, cost of living and October 7 investigation ahead of October 27 elections. Israel's October 27 election faces… - Keywords: israel, netanyahu, military conscription, cost of living, october 7, hamas attack, election, october 27, bipartisan commission, ultra-orthodox, gadi eineskot, economy - Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/world/2026/10/22/israel-election-october-7-failures-military-conscription-and-cost-of-living-top-voters-concerns/240147 - Published: 2026-10-22T21:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: israel, netanyahu, military conscription, cost of living, october 7, hamas attack, election, october 27, bipartisan commission, ultra-orthodox, gadi eineskot, economy ## Accountability for October 7 Israel's voters demand an independent inquiry into the October 7 Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 people. > The deadliest day in Israel’s history, it inflicted a profound national trauma whose repercussions continue to shape the country’s politics, society and collective psyche. ## Netanyahu's response Prime Minister Netanyahu rejects independent inquiries, proposing a bipartisan commission instead to investigate October 7 failures. > Netanyahu himself has faulted the security services for not waking him sooner on the day of the attack. ## Opposition criticism Opposition figure Yair Lapid claims Netanyahu's commission will whitewash responsibility and prevent a genuine investigation. > the government-proposed commission’s purpose “is to whitewash (those responsible) and prevent a genuine investigation” ## Security strategy shift Israel has shifted from short wars to prolonged military campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria since October 7. > The government has instead embraced long military campaigns, reflected in the army’s continued presence in “security zones” in Gaza, southern Lebanon and Syria. ## Military conscription debate Ultra-Orthodox parties push for military service exemptions, backed by Netanyahu's Likud party and far-right coalition partners. > Ultra-Orthodox parties want to preserve exemptions that allow religious students to avoid military service ## Netanyahu's balancing act Netanyahu criticizes ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers while insisting non-Torah students must enlist. > Netanyahu, meanwhile, has struggled to strike a balance on the issue, recently criticising the arrest of ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers in an interview ## Cost of living pressures Israel faces one of the world’s highest costs of living despite strong economic growth and low unemployment. > Despite strong economic growth, with GDP more than doubling since 2.000 and unemployment historically low, Israelis continue to face one of the world’s highest costs of living. ## Economic challenges Median wages remain below OECD average, with structural issues driving high prices and defense budget doubling since 2023. > Economists point to long-standing structural problems, including housing shortages, trade barriers and limited competition in key sectors, as the main drivers of high prices. ## International criticism Israel faces international backlash over Gaza war, with Palestinian death toll exceeding 74,000 and US President Trump publicly rebuking Netanyahu. > Even US President Donald Trump publicly rebuked Netanyahu over Israel’s conduct during the latest conflict with Iran, at one point launching a profanity-laced tirade after fresh Israeli strikes on Lebanon threatened to derail ceasefire negotiations. ## Election timeline Israel's legislative election is scheduled for October 27, 2026, with key issues shaping voter concerns. > When Israel goes to the polls this month, voters will weigh in on military conscription, the economy and how the state should investigate its inability to prevent Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. ## Key takeaway Israel's October 27 election faces pressure from October 7 Hamas attack accountability, military conscription debates and soaring living costs.