Israeli Voters Rank Security Above Global Image Ahead of October 27 Vote

Israeli voters are entering the October 27 election with security as their primary concern, a priority that analysts say eclipses the country's declining international reputation. While Israel's global standing has drawn criticism, experts indicate that domestic issues, including the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack and internal political divisions, are driving the current ballot choices.

Reports of incidents involving Israelis abroad have circulated in domestic media in recent months. In July, tourists in Montenegro were confronted by individuals accusing them of taking holidays during a genocide. An Israeli woman reported that a Greek restaurant denied her service based on her nationality, and a mother said she and her daughter were beaten in Thailand after identifying as Israeli. A couple checking into a California hotel were also questioned about whether they were baby killers.

These anecdotes align with survey data showing widespread unfavorable views of Israel. 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 military operations in Gaza as disproportionate, and policies in the West Bank, including settler violence, have led some allies to impose sanctions or distance themselves from the government.

Despite this evidence, political analysts argue that foreign criticism has not become a major electoral issue. Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that many Israelis accept Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's argument that global hostility is rooted in antisemitism and will persist regardless of policy. Katz warned that the average voter does not fully grasp the consequences of declining support, particularly in the United States, though he noted that President Donald Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu offers some reassurance.

Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies, stated that Israelis are aware of and troubled by hostility abroad. However, after more than three years of war, other concerns carry greater weight. Dayan said, "Israeli voters are very much one-issue voters, and the issue in this election is security."

Former Israel Defense Forces international spokesman Peter Lerner agreed with this assessment. Speaking to JTA, Lerner said that foreign standing ranks behind divisions over Netanyahu and the split between the left and right in the country. Few of the roughly dozen parties expected to enter the Knesset have addressed the country’s image or outlined specific public diplomacy proposals.

B’Yachad, led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, has proposed creating a non-voting parliamentary observer focused on Diaspora Jewish issues. This measure is part of an effort 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 repeatedly expressed interest in becoming the public diplomacy minister.

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

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