Israelis Vote on Security as Global Image Plummets

A central tension defines the Israeli election on October 27: a sharp decline in international standing versus a domestic electorate focused almost exclusively on security. While Israeli citizens face increasing harassment abroad, the average voter treats global diplomacy as a secondary concern. This disconnect between foreign perception and domestic voting behavior is the defining feature of the current campaign.

The data underscores the scale of the image drop. A Pew poll conducted from February to May 2026 found that a median of 67% of adults across 36 countries held an unfavorable view of Israel. On the diplomatic front, many world leaders have described Israel’s military actions in Gaza as disproportionate. Some nations, including traditional allies, have pulled back support or imposed sanctions in response to violence in the West Bank and government policy there.

The human cost of this hostility is visible in reports from travelers. In July, Israeli tourists in Montenegro were confronted by locals who asked them, “Taking a break from genocide?” In Greece, a restaurant reportedly refused service to an Israeli woman. In Thailand, a mother and daughter were allegedly beaten after identifying themselves as Israeli. In California, a couple checking into a hotel were asked if they were “baby killers.”

Despite these incidents, experts say the issue barely factors into voting decisions. Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, noted that most Israelis view the diplomatic struggle as beyond their immediate control. He explained that voters accept the argument that the world is largely against Israel regardless of its actions. “People accept that argument, and to a large extent, they don’t push back on it,” Katz said.

Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, stated that while Israelis are aware of global trends, they are not one-issue voters for diplomacy. “Israeli voters are very much one-issue voters, and the issue in this election is security,” Dayan said. She added that the country is not remote enough from the October 7, 2023, attack for voters to shift their choices based on international standing.

Peter Lerner, a former Israel Defense Forces spokesman, described international standing as secondary to two main factors: whether Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power and the left-right divide. “You just don’t see very many talking about it and when they do talk about it, it is secondary to everything else,” Lerner said. The campaign is dominated by the question of who is best suited to handle the threats surrounding the country.

Only a few of the dozen parties expected to win seats in the Knesset have proposed specific public diplomacy plans. The B’Yachad Party, led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, aims to elevate the role of Diaspora Jewry by creating a non-voting observer position in the parliament. The right-wing party Amcha Yisrael includes two prominent public diplomacy activists on its list. Yoseph Haddad has stated his intention to serve as minister for public diplomacy if elected.

Eylon Levy, a former government spokesman, argued that public diplomacy is not a goal in itself for most candidates. He suggested that a new government might buy Israel some goodwill from less-friendly allies, but he did not expect a magical boost in international standing. The election will determine whether the next administration prioritizes domestic security narratives or attempts to repair diplomatic ties with the world.