Is security the top worry for voters?

Israeli voters will cast ballots on October 27 with security at the center of their decision-making, according to political analysts. While the country’s international reputation has taken a hit, that damage is viewed as a secondary issue compared to the immediate need for safety and stability. The election comes just over three years after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, an event that reshaped the political landscape and continues to define the national debate.

Recent months have brought a series of high-profile incidents involving Israelis abroad that have fueled discussions about the country's standing. In July, tourists in Montenegro were reportedly confronted by locals who accused them of taking a holiday from genocide. An Israeli woman in Greece was denied service at a restaurant because of her nationality, while a mother and daughter were beaten in Thailand after identifying themselves as Israeli. In California, a couple checking into a hotel was asked by staff if they were “baby killers.”

These anecdotes align with statistical data showing a decline in global opinion. A Pew survey conducted between February and May found that a median of 67% of adults across 36 countries viewed Israel unfavorably. More world leaders have described military operations in Gaza as disproportionate. Additionally, policies in the West Bank, including unchecked settler violence, have led some allies to distance themselves or impose sanctions.

Despite these developments, experts argue that the average voter is not prioritizing the diplomatic fallout. Yaakov Katz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that criticism of the government’s international explanations has not become a major electoral concern. He noted that many Israelis accept Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s argument that hostility is rooted in antisemitism and will persist regardless of policy. Katz warned, however, that voters may underestimate the consequences of declining support, particularly in the United States, even with President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu.

Ofir Dayan, a senior fellow at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies, said Israelis are aware of and troubled by foreign hostility. However, after more than three years of war, other concerns carry greater weight. “Israeli voters are very much one-issue voters, and the issue in this election is security,” Dayan said. Peter Lerner, a former Israel Defense Forces international spokesman, agreed, telling JTA that foreign standing ranks behind divisions over Netanyahu and the ideological split between the left and right.

Few of the roughly dozen parties expected to enter the Knesset have outlined specific public diplomacy proposals. B’Yachad, led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, has proposed a non-voting parliamentary observer focused on Diaspora Jewish issues to help repair relations with world Jewry. On the right, Amcha Yisrael, led by former IDF Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter, includes public diplomacy activists Yoseph Haddad and Fleur Hassan-Nahoum among its candidates. Haddad has expressed interest in becoming the public diplomacy minister.

Journalist and former government spokesman Eylon Levy, speaking on JTA’s “Waiting for 61” podcast, said candidates generally approach public diplomacy by asking how international relationships can advance national interests. He described the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party’s approach as emphasizing toughness. Levy criticized left-wing expectations that more moderate conduct would quickly restore normal relations, noting that a change of government would be unlikely to transform international perceptions immediately. He suggested that a more moderate administration could, however, receive a grace period and gain goodwill from countries that profess support for Israel.