Main electoral battle will be for Israel's centrist voters, with far-right, left already set - poll

The upcoming Israeli election is likely to be decided by centrist voters, as most Israelis have already made up their minds, according to the Jewish People Policy Institute's Israeli Society Index. The poll indicates that 53% of Israelis are completely certain of their vote, with another 29% fairly certain, leaving only 14% undecided.

Certainty is highest at the political extremes, with 71% of Left-wing voters and 58% of Right-wing voters knowing their choice. The proportion of undecided voters increases towards the center, with 44% of centrists completely certain and 22% still waiting for the political landscape to clarify. This suggests the main electoral battle will focus on persuading these centrist voters.

Meanwhile, identification with the Right continues to grow among Jewish Israelis, with 66% now defining themselves as Right-wing, up from 63% last year. The proportion identifying as "exactly in the center" rose from 10% to 13%. Conversely, the proportion identifying with the Left fell from 22% to 19%. Among Arab respondents, half identify with the Left, and a decreasing number feel unable to place themselves on the political spectrum.

Security remains the paramount issue for 28% of all respondents. However, priorities diverge sharply across the political spectrum. Right-wing voters prioritize security (40%) and the government-judicial system relationship (30%). In contrast, centrist and Left-wing voters are more concerned with advancing Israel as a liberal country (35-38%). Arab respondents also rank security first (34%), followed by the economy (26%).