Housing costs top young Israelis’ election concerns, security trails far behind - poll

A new Israel 2050 survey published Wednesday night found that economic and social issues, led by housing affordability, top young voters' priorities ahead of the elections.

Housing costs and other economic and social issues have emerged as the leading concerns among young Israelis ahead of the elections, while the security situation ranked far lower, according to a new Israel 2050 survey published Wednesday night.

The survey presented striking findings regarding the issues of greatest concern to young people in southern Israel. Rather than security, respondents placed economic and social issues at the top of their priorities, particularly their ability to establish themselves and build a stable future.

According to the findings, 75% said they would consider voting for a party they had not previously considered if it demonstrated the ability and courage to advance long-term solutions on issues important to them. Nineteen percent said they would do so without any reservations.

Housing prices were the most important issue for 38% of respondents when considering how to vote, more than twice the share for any other issue. Young respondents also gave the state particularly poor marks for its performance in this area, rating it just 2.5 out of 10.

After the cost of living, 16% said they were concerned about the state of the education system, while only 4% said the security situation was the issue carrying the greatest weight for them. Another 13% cited the situation facing young people in Israel, while 8% named transportation.

Low satisfaction across all areas surveyed

Politically, a majority of the young respondents, around 60%, defined themselves as belonging to the Right or center-Right. Just 7% identified themselves as left-wing voters, while the remainder were divided among the center-Left and center, with 6% saying they did not know where they stood politically.

Only 21% said they believe the government's current decisions are building a strong foundation for them for the decades ahead.

Forty-two percent said that leadership placing solutions in housing, transportation, and education at the top of its priorities would inspire the greatest sense of hope and optimism.

The findings also painted a similarly bleak picture when respondents were asked to rate the state's performance. Satisfaction stood below 4 out of 10 in each of the five areas examined.

The situation facing young people in Israel received a score of 3.9, while rehabilitation and strengthening of northern Israel received 3.8. The education system and transportation each received 3.5.

Housing receives lowest score in survey

Housing prices, however, received a score of just 2.5 out of 10, the lowest rating in the survey.

In effect, respondents gave the state a failing grade on every issue that most concerns them.

The dissatisfaction reflected in the survey relates not only to current conditions, but also to the state's ability to provide young people with a long-term economic and social future.

Only 21% said they believe government decisions currently being made are laying a strong foundation for their quality of life and the needs they will have in 20 to 30 years. By contrast, 41% said current decisions are doing so only to a small or very small extent.

Israel 2050 conducted the survey among a nationally representative sample of 409 people aged 18-35 from southern Israel.