Security Tops Global Image in Israel Vote

Israeli voters face the Oct. 27 ballot with a stark choice: security or global image. Despite a sharp drop in international standing, the latter is rarely the deciding factor. The conflict that defines the election is not how Israel is seen abroad, but how it protects its citizens at home.

The shift in public opinion is measurable. A Pew poll conducted between February and May this year found that a median of 67% of adults across 36 countries held an unfavorable view of Israel. This sentiment follows a series of high-profile incidents. In July, Israeli tourists in Montenegro were confronted by locals who asked if they were taking a break from genocide. In Greece, a restaurant refused to serve an Israeli woman. In Thailand, a mother and daughter were allegedly beaten after identifying themselves as Israeli. In California, a hotel clerk asked an Israeli couple if they were baby killers.

Diplomatic friction has also increased. Some world leaders have labeled Israel’s military action in Gaza disproportionate. Countries that are traditionally considered allies have pulled back or imposed sanctions, citing unchecked violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and government policy there. Yet, this diplomatic pressure is not leading the voting agenda.

Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that most Israelis view the image problem as beyond their direct control. He noted that many accept the argument that the world is against Israel regardless of its actions. “People accept that argument, and to a large extent, they don’t push back on it,” Katz said. He added that the average Israeli does not fully understand that declining support, particularly in the US, could have existential consequences for the country.

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 said the issue is not a priority for voters. “Israeli voters are very much one-issue voters, and the issue in this election is security,” Dayan said. She explained that the war has been ongoing for more than three years, keeping security at the forefront of every vote.

Peter Lerner, a former Israel Defense Forces spokesman for the international press, told JTA that international standing is secondary to two main issues: whether Benjamin Netanyahu remains prime minister and the divide between the left and the right. “You just don’t see very many talking about it and when they do talk about it, it is secondary to everything else,” Lerner said.

Among the dozen or so parties expected to win seats in the Knesset, few have offered detailed plans to repair Israel’s image. The B’Yachad Party, led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, proposes elevating the importance of Diaspora Jewry. Their plan includes allowing a non-voting observer in the Knesset to focus on these ties. Amcha Yisrael, a new right-wing party led by former IDF Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter, has two candidates who are prominent public diplomacy activists. Yoseph Haddad has stated he wants to become the next minister for public diplomacy.