Seventy-two percent of Israelis believe internal divisions over judicial reform increased the likelihood of Hamas’s October 7 attack, according to a survey released on Thursday.
The survey’s release comes as Israelis grapple with the deeply divisive issue of army conscription for yeshiva students.
The survey, conducted by Bar-Ilan University’s Menomadin Center for Jewish and Democratic Law, questioned 1,600 Jews and 400 Israeli Arabs in January. According to the findings, 72% believed that internal divisions over the government’s controversial judicial reform initiative raised the probability of the attack.
“The majority of Israeli society is willing to reach a consensus, recognizing that societal divisions were a significant factor leading to the October 7 events. While emotional gaps still pose challenges to agreement, there’s a growing understanding that finding common ground is essential for advancing the nation,” Menomadin Center director Prof. Shahar Lifshitz.