Israeli Voters Prioritize Security Over Global Image Ahead of Election

Israeli voters are largely setting aside concerns about the country's deteriorating global image as they prepare to head to the polls on October 27. Experts say that while Israelis recognize the hostility they face abroad, the immediate demands of a three-year war and the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack dominate the electoral conversation. The election will determine the new leadership in the Knesset, with security remaining the primary issue for most citizens.

The backdrop for this election is a sharp decline in Israel's international standing. A Pew Research Center poll conducted between February and May 2026 found that a median of 67% of adults across 36 countries held an unfavorable view of Israel. This diplomatic strain is accompanied by growing reports of harassment against Israeli citizens overseas. In July, a group of tourists in Montenegro was confronted by locals who asked them to stay in Israel. In Greece, a restaurant reportedly refused service to an Israeli woman. In Thailand, a mother and daughter were beaten after identifying themselves as Israeli, and a couple in California was called baby killers while checking into a hotel.

Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, explains that many Israelis accept Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's argument that the world is inherently against Israel. Katz notes that voters often view global antisemitism as a phenomenon that would occur regardless of Israel's specific actions. He observes that the average citizen does not fully grasp that declining support, particularly in the United States, could have long-term existential consequences for the state. Instead, voters find comfort in endorsements from allies like President Donald Trump.

Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, agrees that Israelis are aware of and concerned about the situation abroad. However, she argues that the issue is not a deciding factor for most voters. Dayan states that Israeli voters are effectively one-issue voters in this cycle, with security being the defining priority. Because the nation is still close to the trauma of the October 7 attack, voters are not shifting their preferences based on diplomatic policy.

Peter Lerner, the former Israel Defense Forces spokesman for the international press, places Israel's international standing secondary to two main political questions: whether Netanyahu remains in power and the balance between the left and the right. Lerner notes that while these political camps have different approaches to threats, the discussion of global image rarely leads the debate among candidates.

Most of the dozen or so parties expected to win seats in the Knesset have not presented detailed plans to improve public diplomacy. The B’Yachad Party, led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, proposes elevating the role of Diaspora Jewry by creating a non-voting observer position in the Knesset. The right-wing party Amcha Yisrael includes two public diplomacy activists on its list, including Yoseph Haddad, who has expressed interest in becoming the minister for public diplomacy.

Eylon Levy, a former Israeli government spokesman, suggests that public diplomacy is not a standalone goal for most candidates. He describes a split in approach, with the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party favoring a tough stance, while the left believes that normalizing behavior will restore relations. Levy believes a more moderate government would buy Israel some goodwill from its allies, but he does not expect a magical boost in international standing immediately following the vote.

The election on October 27 will decide the next government in a country where more than three years of war have shaped the political mood. While the global perception of Israel has hit historic lows, the domestic focus remains on who can best manage the security threats and the political fallout from the Hamas-led attack that began in 2023.