Security Concerns Outweigh Global Image Drop for Israeli Voters
With the election scheduled for October 27, analysts state that domestic security and political divisions remain the primary focus for the electorate.
By Elena Vargas ·
Israeli voters facing the ballot on October 27 are prioritizing national security over the country's declining international standing, according to political analysts. The election comes as the nation grapples with the ongoing consequences of the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. While global perceptions have shifted, domestic issues continue to dominate the campaign trail.
Recent reports have detailed specific instances of hostility toward Israelis abroad. In July, tourists in Montenegro faced confrontations from locals who accused them of taking holiday vacations from a genocide. An Israeli woman reported that a restaurant in Greece refused service to her due to her nationality. In Thailand, a mother and daughter were beaten after identifying themselves as Israeli. Additionally, a couple in California was asked if they were "baby killers" while checking into a hotel.
These anecdotes align with statistical data showing a negative shift in global opinion. 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. Sanctions and diplomatic distancing by some allies have followed policies in the West Bank, including settler violence.
Despite these figures, experts argue the issue is secondary for the average voter. Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that criticism of the government's international messaging has not become a major electoral concern. He noted that many Israelis accept Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's argument that foreign hostility is rooted in antisemitism and will persist regardless of policy changes. Katz warned that voters may underestimate the consequences of declining support, particularly in the United States, though they take comfort from President Donald Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu.
Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies, stated that while Israelis are troubled by foreign hostility, other concerns carry more weight after more than three years of war. "Israeli voters are very much one-issue voters, and the issue in this election is security," she said. Peter Lerner, a former Israel Defense Forces international spokesman, agreed that foreign standing ranks behind internal divisions over Netanyahu and the political spectrum.
Few of the roughly dozen parties expected to enter the Knesset have proposed specific public diplomacy plans. B’Yachad, led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, has proposed a non-voting parliamentary observer for Diaspora Jewish issues 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 on its candidate list. Haddad has expressed interest in becoming public diplomacy minister.
Journalist Eylon Levy, speaking on the "Waiting for 61" podcast, noted that candidates generally approach public diplomacy by asking how international relationships can advance national interests. He described the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party’s approach as emphasizing toughness. Levy criticized left-wing expectations that moderate conduct would quickly restore normal relations. He suggested that a more moderate administration might receive a grace period and gain goodwill from countries that profess support for Israel, though a change of government is unlikely to transform international perceptions immediately.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
