Netanyahu: World Against Us, Security Still First

International opinion of Israel has dropped to historic lows, yet this decline is barely registering in the domestic campaign for the parliamentary vote scheduled for October 27.

A Pew Research Center survey conducted between February and May found that a median of 67% of adults across 36 countries hold an unfavorable view of the state. This statistical drop coincides with a series of high-profile incidents where Israeli tourists reported harassment in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Specific reports include a confrontation in Montenegro where a local asked tourists if they were taking a break from genocide, and a restaurant refusal in Greece. In the United States, an Israeli couple in California was asked if they were baby killers while checking into a hotel.

Despite these diplomatic frictions, political analysts argue that the average voter sees the global image crisis as a problem outside their direct control. Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, noted that many Israelis accept the narrative that the world is inherently against them, a stance reinforced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign messaging.

Katz stated that people do not push back on the argument that any action by Israel will be interpreted as antisemitism. He observed that the average citizen does not fully grasp how declining support, particularly in the United States, could have existential consequences for the country in the long term.

Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, agreed that Israelis are aware of the hostility abroad. However, she argued that the issue is not a primary driver for voting behavior because the war has defined the political landscape for over three years.

Dayan described Israeli voters as one-issue voters for this specific election, with security being the central priority. She noted that the proximity to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack prevents a complete shift in voting patterns based on diplomatic concerns.

Peter Lerner, a former Israeli Defense Forces spokesman, added that international standing is secondary to the binary choice of Netanyahu or not Netanyahu. He emphasized that the debate is framed by the left versus right dynamic, with each side bundling security issues into their platform.

Among the dozen or so parties expected to win seats in the Knesset, only a few have proposed specific public diplomacy plans. The B’Yachad Party, led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, proposes elevating the role of Diaspora Jewry by adding a non-voting observer to the parliament.

The new right-wing party Amcha Yisrael, led by former Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter, has included public diplomacy activists Yoseph Haddad and Fleur Hassan-Nahoum on its candidate list. Haddad has publicly stated his desire to serve as the next minister for public diplomacy.

Eylon Levy, a former government spokesman, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that most candidates view public diplomacy as a means to achieve national interests rather than a goal itself. He suggested that while a new government would not magically fix Israel’s standing, a more moderate administration would likely secure a grace period from less-than-friendly allies.