Israelis Prioritize Security Over 67% Negative Global Rating in Final Election Week

The final day before the October 27 vote arrives as Israeli voters weigh their country's falling international standing against immediate domestic threats.

Analysts agree that security remains the top priority for most citizens. The ongoing impact of the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, and political divisions over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu currently dominate the conversation. These factors take precedence over questions regarding Israel's reputation abroad.

Recent reports describe hostile encounters involving Israelis in several foreign countries. In July, tourists in Montenegro were confronted by locals who accused them of taking a holiday from genocide. In Greece, an Israeli woman said a restaurant denied her service due to her nationality. In Thailand, a mother and daughter reported being beaten after identifying themselves as Israeli. A couple in California was asked by hotel staff if they were "baby killers."

These anecdotes align with data from a Pew survey conducted between February and May of this year. The study found that a median of 67% of adults across 36 countries viewed Israel unfavorably. More world leaders have also described Israeli military operations in Gaza as disproportionate. Some allies have begun to distance themselves or impose sanctions following government policies and settler violence in the West Bank.

Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that this criticism has not yet become a major electoral issue. He noted that many Israelis accept Netanyahu's argument that hostility is rooted in antisemitism. Katz warned that the average voter may not fully appreciate the potential consequences of declining support, particularly in the United States, though Trump's endorsement offers some reassurance.

Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies, stated that while Israelis are aware of foreign hostility, other concerns carry greater weight after more than three years of war. "Israeli voters are very much one-issue voters, and the issue in this election is security," she said. Former IDF international spokesman Peter Lerner agreed, noting that foreign standing ranks behind divisions over Netanyahu and the left-right split.

Few of the roughly dozen parties expected to enter the Knesset have outlined specific public diplomacy proposals. B’Yachad, led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, has proposed a non-voting parliamentary observer for Diaspora Jewish issues. Amcha Yisrael, a new right-wing party led by former Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter, includes public diplomacy activists among its candidates. Journalist Eylon Levy noted that candidates generally view international relationships through the lens of national interests rather than immediate perception management.