The survey specifically examined the possibility that Palestinian Authority security personnel could participate in a large-scale attack, raising questions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian security arrangements.
By Hezy Laing
Nearly nine in ten Jewish Israelis fear that Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces could participate in an October 7-style attack, according to a September 2026 survey highlighting deep concerns about security in Judea and Samaria.
The survey, conducted by the Jerusalem Center for Foreign Affairs and Security (JCFA) in cooperation with the Lazar Research Institute, questioned 703 respondents between September 2 and 4, with a reported maximum sampling error of 3.7 percentage points.
Overall, 77% of respondents expressed concern about such an attack, while the figure among Jewish Israelis reached 86%.
The JCFA’s published comparison reported that concern among Jewish Israelis had risen from 68% in February 2025 to 86% in September 2026, an increase of 18 percentage points. The center also reported that concern extended across political divisions, with 58% of respondents identifying with the political left expressing concern.
The findings reflect fears that the security situation in Judea and Samaria could deteriorate beyond confrontations with established terrorist organizations. The possibility of Palestinian security personnel turning their weapons against Israel raises particular concerns because of their training, access to weapons and familiarity with Israeli security arrangements.
An attack originating in Judea and Samaria could also threaten communities near the Green Line and potentially endanger civilians in Gush Dan, Israel’s densely populated central metropolitan region.
The findings come amid warnings from Defense Minister Israel Katz that the IDF is preparing for the possibility of a confrontation with Palestinian Authority forces. Katz has described a scenario in which Palestinian security personnel could join armed groups in attacks against Israeli soldiers and Jewish communities.
However, the survey measures public concern, not the likelihood of an attack, and does not establish that such an assault is imminent.
The results nevertheless highlight the extent of Israeli anxiety about a potential security crisis in Judea and Samaria, nearly three years after the October 7 massacre demonstrated the consequences of a large-scale surprise attack.
