Security Tops Global Image in Israel's Oct. 27 Election

Israeli voters are treating the country's deteriorating global image as a secondary concern ahead of the election scheduled for Oct. 27, prioritizing security over diplomatic relations. This preference holds despite a sharp rise in international hostility and a Pew poll showing that a median of 67% of adults across 36 countries held an unfavorable view of Israel between February and May this year.

The shift in public perception follows months of reported incidents involving Israeli tourists abroad. In July, a group in Montenegro was confronted by locals who asked if they were taking a break from genocide. In Greece, an Israeli woman reported a restaurant refused to serve her. In Thailand, a mother and daughter were allegedly beaten after identifying themselves as Israeli, and a couple in California was asked if they were baby killers during a hotel check-in.

Diplomatic friction has also increased. World leaders have described Israel's military action in Gaza as disproportionate, and some allies have imposed sanctions or pulled back support due to violence by settlers in the West Bank. Yet, experts say these factors are not driving the current electoral debate.

Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, noted that many Israelis accept Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's argument that the world is against Israel regardless of its actions. Katz, co-author of While Israel Slept, stated, People accept that argument, and to a large extent, they don't push back on it. Why? Because part of it is true, right? He added that most citizens do not fully grasp the potential existential consequences of declining support, particularly in the United States.

Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, observed that while Israelis are aware of foreign hostility, security remains the primary voting issue. She said, Israeli voters are very much one-issue voters, and the issue in this election is security. We're not remote enough from Oct. 7 for people to completely shift their vote and vote based on this idea.

Peter Lerner, a former Israel Defense Forces spokesman, described international standing as secondary to the choice between Netanyahu and his opponents, as well as the left versus the right divide. He noted that candidates rarely discuss the topic, and when they do, it is secondary to everything else.

Among the dozen or so parties expected to win Knesset seats, only a few have outlined public diplomacy plans. The B'Yachad Party, led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, proposes elevating Diaspora Jewry by allowing a non-voting observer in parliament. The right-wing Amcha Yisrael party includes public diplomacy activists on its list. Eylon Levy, a former government spokesman, said most candidates view hasbara as a tool for national interests rather than a goal in itself. He predicted a new government would not magically boost Israel's standing but would likely secure a grace period from less-than-friendly allies.