Israel's October 27 Election Focuses on Security Over Global Image

Israeli voters are heading to the polls on October 27 with a primary focus on security and the political divide surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to analysts. This domestic priority outweighs the country's deteriorating international standing, which has become a subject of growing concern at home but remains a secondary factor in the campaign.

The shift in focus comes after more than three years of war following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies, stated that while Israelis are aware of and troubled by foreign hostility, other concerns carry greater weight. She noted that Israeli voters act as one-issue voters, with security serving as the central issue for this election.

Reports of negative treatment abroad have circulated in Israeli media over recent months. In July, tourists in Montenegro were confronted by individuals accusing them of taking a holiday from genocide. An Israeli woman reported that a Greek restaurant denied her service based on her nationality. A mother and daughter were beaten in Thailand after identifying themselves as Israeli, and a couple checking into a California hotel were asked if they were baby killers.

These anecdotal accounts align with quantitative data showing widespread unfavorable views. A Pew survey conducted between February and May found that a median of 67% of adults across 36 countries viewed Israel unfavorably. More world leaders have described Israeli military operations in Gaza as disproportionate. Additionally, government policies and settler violence in the West Bank have led some nations, including allies, to impose sanctions or distance themselves diplomatically.

Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that criticism of the government's international explanations has not translated into a major electoral concern. He explained that many Israelis accept Netanyahu’s argument that global hostility is rooted in antisemitism and will persist regardless of policy. Katz warned that the average citizen does not fully appreciate the potential consequences of declining support, particularly in the United States, though they find reassurance in President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu.

Former Israel Defense Forces international spokesman Peter Lerner similarly told JTA that foreign standing ranks behind divisions over Netanyahu and the ideological split between the left and right. Few of the roughly dozen parties expected to enter the Knesset have outlined specific public diplomacy proposals to address the country's image.

The party B’Yachad, led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, proposed a non-voting parliamentary observer focused on Diaspora Jewish issues. This measure aims to repair relations with world Jewry. Amcha Yisrael, a new right-wing party led by former IDF Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter, includes public diplomacy activists Yoseph Haddad and Fleur Hassan-Nahoum among its candidates. Haddad has expressed interest in becoming the public diplomacy minister.

Journalist and former government spokesman Eylon Levy discussed candidate approaches on JTA’s “Waiting for 61” podcast. He noted that candidates generally view public diplomacy through the lens of how international relationships advance national interests. Levy described the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party’s approach as emphasizing toughness, while criticizing left-wing expectations that moderate conduct would quickly restore normal relations.

Levy said a change of government would be unlikely to transform international perceptions immediately due to existing shifts in public opinion and policymaker expectations. He suggested that a more moderate administration could receive a grace period and gain goodwill from countries that profess support for Israel.

The election is scheduled for tomorrow, with the outcome likely to hinge on security priorities rather than diplomatic outreach.