67% of Adults View Israel Unfavorably, Yet It Trails Security in Vote

Israeli voters are preparing to cast ballots on Oct. 27 with security as their dominant concern, largely ignoring a sharp decline in the country's global image. A Pew Research Center survey conducted between February and May 2026 found that a median of 67% of adults across 36 countries held an unfavorable view of Israel. Despite this historic low in public opinion, the issue of international standing is barely factoring into the upcoming election.

The dip in global perception coincides with rising incidents of harassment against Israelis abroad. In July, Israeli tourists in Montenegro were confronted by locals who asked if they were taking a break from genocide. In Greece, a restaurant reportedly refused service to an Israeli woman, while a mother and daughter in Thailand were beaten after revealing their nationality. In California, an Israeli couple checking into a hotel were questioned about being baby killers. These anecdotes have fueled a narrative of growing diplomatic hostility.

Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, notes that while many Israelis complain about the government's effectiveness in explaining its policies, they often view the situation as beyond their control. Katz argues that a prevailing belief exists that the world is against Israel regardless of its actions. He states that many Israelis believe the rise in antisemitism would continue even if the death toll in Gaza were lower, leading them to accept the argument that no matter what Israel says, it faces antisemitic backlash.

Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, observes that while Israelis are aware of foreign hostility, it is not a decisive voting factor. Dayan explains that the country has been grappling with war for more than three years, making security the primary lens through which voters evaluate candidates. She describes Israeli voters as one-issue voters in this cycle, with that issue being security rather than diplomatic relations.

Peter Lerner, a former Israel Defense Forces spokesman for international press, adds that the question of Israel's international standing is secondary to two main factors: whether Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power and the ideological split between left and right. Lerner notes that while these topics come with their own packages of issues related to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, few candidates actively debate public diplomacy. When the topic arises, it is treated as secondary to everything else.

Among the dozen or so parties expected to win seats in the Knesset, only a few have outlined plans to improve public diplomacy. The B'Yachad Party, led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, proposes elevating the importance of Diaspora Jewry by allowing a non-voting observer in parliament to focus on these ties. Amcha Yisrael, a new right-wing party, includes public diplomacy activists Yoseph Haddad and Fleur Hassan-Nahoum on its list, with Haddad expressing interest in a ministerial role in that field.

Eylon Levy, a former government spokesman, argues that public diplomacy is not a goal in itself for most candidates but rather a tool to achieve national interests. He notes that the far right, represented by Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit Party, favors a tough image, while the left believes better behavior will snap relations back to normal. Levy suggests that while a new government elected on Oct. 27 may not magically boost Israel's standing, a more moderate administration would likely buy the country some goodwill among its allies.