Israeli Voters Prioritize Security Over Falling Global Image

A median of 67 percent of adults across 36 countries hold an unfavorable view of Israel, according to a Pew poll conducted between February and May 2026. Despite this historic low in global opinion, analysts say the election scheduled for October 27 will be decided primarily by domestic security concerns rather than Israel's diplomatic standing.

Reports of harassment against Israeli citizens abroad have intensified in recent months. In July, a group of tourists in Montenegro was confronted by locals who questioned if they were taking a break from genocide. An Israeli woman reported that a restaurant in Greece refused to serve her after she identified her nationality. In Thailand, a mother and daughter were allegedly beaten after telling a man they were from Israel. Meanwhile, an Israeli couple in California was called baby killers while checking into a hotel.

Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, noted that many Israelis accept the narrative that global opposition is inevitable and often driven by antisemitism. Katz, co-author of While Israel Slept, argued that most voters believe the rise in antisemitism would occur regardless of Israel's actions. He stated that the average Israeli does not fully grasp how declining support, particularly in the United States, could have existential consequences for the country.

Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, observed that while Israelis are aware of foreign hostility, it is not a primary voting motivator. Dayan described Israeli voters as one-issue voters focused on security. She emphasized that the country is still grappling with a war that has lasted more than three years, making the events surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack the central concern.

Peter Lerner, former Israel Defense Forces spokesman for international press, identified the election's main drivers as the choice between Netanyahu and his opponents, and the ideological divide between left and right. He said the issue of international standing is secondary to these core political battles. Lerner noted that when candidates discuss foreign relations, it rarely tops the agenda.

Few of the dozen or so parties expected to win seats in the Knesset have detailed plans to improve Israel's public image. The B'Yachad Party, led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, proposes elevating the role of Diaspora Jewry by allowing a non-voting observer in the Knesset to focus on these issues. The right-wing Amcha Yisrael party, led by former Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter, includes public diplomacy activists on its candidate list, including Yoseph Haddad, who has expressed interest in becoming the next minister for public diplomacy.

Journalist Eylon Levy, a former government spokesman, argued that public diplomacy is not a goal in itself for most candidates. He said the focus is on managing relations to achieve national interests. Levy noted that the far right, represented by Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party, favors a tough approach, while the left believes normal behavior will restore relations. Levy concluded that a more moderate government elected on October 27 would likely buy Israel some goodwill among its allies, even if it does not magically reverse global perceptions.