Elham Asaad Buaras
Public perceptions of Israel and its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, have soured significantly around the world, according to a major global survey published by the Pew Research Centre.
The wide-ranging study, released on June 3, found that in 20 of the 24 countries surveyed, a majority of adults hold an unfavourable view of Israel. The findings come amid mounting international criticism over the conduct of Israel’s war in Gaza, which has left tens of thousands dead and displaced more than a million Palestinians.
In several countries, negative sentiment towards Israel is overwhelming. In Australia, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey, at least three-quarters of respondents view Israel in a negative light.
In the UK, public opinion has shifted markedly over the past decade, with 61% now expressing unfavourable views of Israel—up from 44% in 2013. The United States, long regarded as Israel’s most dependable ally, has also seen a notable shift. Since 2022, the share of Americans who view Israel negatively has risen by 11 points to 53%.
Netanyahu, currently overseeing the government’s military campaign in Gaza, fares no better in the international arena. Outside of Kenya and Nigeria, confidence in the Israeli leader is dismally low. In most of the countries surveyed, fewer than a third of respondents say they trust him to “do the right thing” in global affairs.
In many European and Asia-Pacific nations—including France, Germany, Japan, Spain, and Turkey—about three-quarters or more express little or no confidence in Netanyahu’s leadership.
Turkish respondents were especially scathing, with 94% expressing distrust in the Israeli leader and 93% holding negative views of Israel as a whole.
The survey also found striking generational and political divides. In higher-income nations such as Canada, Australia, South Korea, and the US, younger people were significantly more critical of Israel than older respondents.
Left-leaning respondents were also far more likely to express negative views. In the US and Australia, the ideological gap on Israel was particularly stark, with a 44-point difference in attitudes between those on the left and right of the political spectrum.
The Pew report also surveyed attitudes within Israel. Most Israelis—58%—believe their country is not respected internationally, with nearly a quarter (24%) saying it is not respected “at all,” up from 15% last year.
The survey paints a sobering picture of Israel’s global standing at a time of deepening international concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. For Netanyahu and his government, the findings underscore the extent to which Israel’s actions are alienating public opinion in countries long considered friendly or neutral.
Photo: Global public perceptions of Israel and its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, have soured significantly, according to a major global survey published by the Pew Research Centre. (Credit: Government Press Office of Israel)
