Voters in Israel prioritize security over global image decline ahead of Tuesday vote

Israeli voters are heading to the polls on Tuesday, Oct. 27, with the country's deteriorating reputation abroad taking a back seat to domestic security concerns. Despite a surge in international hostility and a sharp drop in global approval ratings, the issue of Israel's diplomatic standing is barely influencing who casts a ballot.

The shift in perception is stark in the data. A Pew Research Center poll conducted between February and May 2026 found that across 36 countries, a median of 67% of adults held an unfavorable view of Israel. This statistic accompanies a wave of reported incidents where Israeli tourists were harassed or attacked in Europe, Asia, and the Americas over the past few months.

Specific incidents have drawn attention to the rising tensions. In July, Israeli tourists in Montenegro were confronted by locals who asked them to stay in their home country. In Greece, a restaurant reportedly refused service to an Israeli woman. In Thailand, a mother and daughter were beaten, and in California, a hotel staff member asked an Israeli couple if they were "baby killers." These events have fueled a narrative of growing global friction.

Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that most Israelis view the diplomatic struggle as a problem beyond their direct control. Katz noted that many citizens accept Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's argument that the world is inherently against Israel regardless of its actions. "People accept that argument, and to a large extent, they don't push back on it," Katz said. He added that the average Israeli does not fully grasp how declining support, particularly in the United States, could have long-term existential consequences.

Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, agreed that Israelis are aware of the situation abroad but consider it secondary to more pressing issues. Dayan stated that the country has been grappling with war for more than three years, making the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and subsequent security threats the primary focus. "Israeli voters are very much one-issue voters, and the issue in this election is security," Dayan said. She noted that the election is not yet remote enough from the initial Hamas-led attack for voters to shift their priorities based on foreign relations alone.

Peter Lerner, the former Israel Defense Forces spokesman for the international press, described Israel's international standing as secondary to two main factors: whether Netanyahu remains in power and the ideological divide between the left and the right. Lerner observed that while candidates discuss these topics, the conversation remains secondary to questions about who is best suited to handle immediate threats. "You just don't see very many talking about it and when they do talk about it, it is secondary to everything else," he said.

Among the dozen or so parties expected to win seats in the Knesset, only a few have proposed specific plans to improve public diplomacy. The B'Yachad Party, led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, has suggested elevating the role of Diaspora Jewry, including allowing a non-voting observer in the parliament to focus on these ties. The right-wing Amcha Yisrael party, led by former IDF Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter, has included two prominent public diplomacy activists on its candidate list. Yoseph Haddad, one of those candidates, has stated multiple times that he seeks to become the next minister for public diplomacy.

Eylon Levy, a former spokesman for the Israeli government, told JTA's "Waiting for 61" podcast that most candidates view public diplomacy as a means to achieve national interests rather than a goal in itself. Levy noted that approaches vary significantly across the political spectrum. On the far right, the Otzma Yehudit Party, led by Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, favors a tough posture. On the left, Levy suggested there is a belief that normal behavior will automatically repair relations, a view he described as potentially detached from the current reality of shifted public opinion.

Levy concluded that while a new government elected on Oct. 27 may not magically boost Israel's international standing, it could buy the country some goodwill among allies. He believes a more moderate government would receive a grace period, particularly from nations that theoretically support Israel, allowing time to manage relations and achieve national interests.