Security beats global image in Israeli election

Israeli voters are ranking security above concerns about the country's falling global standing ahead of Tuesday's election.

Reports of Israeli tourists facing harassment in Europe, Asia, and the Americas have circulated widely in the local media. In July, a group of tourists in Montenegro was confronted by locals who asked if they were taking a break from genocide. In Greece, a restaurant refused to serve an Israeli woman, and in Thailand, a mother and daughter were beaten after identifying themselves as Israeli. A couple in California was asked if they were baby killers at a hotel. These incidents align with a Pew poll conducted between February and May, which found that 67% of adults across 36 countries held an unfavorable view of Israel.

Diplomatic friction has also increased. Some world leaders have called Israel's military action in Gaza disproportionate, and growing violence by settlers in the West Bank has led several countries, including allies, to consider sanctions. Despite this backdrop, the election on October 27 is not centering on international image. Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, noted that many Israelis accept the argument that the world is against Israel regardless of its actions. He said, "Most people here don't think that far ahead." Katz added that many believe the rise in antisemitism would continue even if the death toll in Gaza were lower, making the diplomatic fallout feel outside of voter control.

Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, explained that while Israelis are aware of the hostility abroad, it is not their primary voting criterion. She stated, "Israeli voters are very much one-issue voters, and the issue in this election is security." She argued that the memory of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack is still fresh, preventing a shift in voting patterns based on diplomatic concerns.

Peter Lerner, a former Israel Defense Forces spokesman, agreed that international standing is secondary. He identified two main drivers for voters: whether Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power and the choice between the left and the right. Lerner said, "You just don't see very many talking about it and when they do talk about it, it is secondary to everything else."

Few political parties have offered specific plans to improve public diplomacy. The B'Yachad Party, led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, proposes elevating the role of Diaspora Jewry by creating a non-voting observer seat in the Knesset. Amcha Yisrael, a right-wing party led by Ofer Winter, has candidates like Yoseph Haddad who aim for a public diplomacy role. Journalist Eylon Levy, a former government spokesman, said the focus is on managing relations to achieve national interests rather than public diplomacy as a standalone goal.

Levy noted that a new government elected on October 27 would likely receive a grace period from less friendly allies, though he did not expect a magical boost in international standing. The vote will take place on October 27.