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Do people like Netanyahu?
Executive Summary
Public opinion on Benjamin Netanyahu is deeply polarized and varies sharply by geography, age, ideology and timing. International and American polls since spring–summer 2025 show predominantly unfavorable views outside Israel, while Israeli polls show durability in party support despite weak personal approval and strong demands for accountability at certain moments [1] [2] [3] [4]. Domestic Israeli politics and the structure of party blocs help explain how Netanyahu can remain electorally strong even as personal ratings and international confidence fall [4] [5].
1. Why global opinion of Netanyahu looks uniformly negative — and what that means
Global surveys conducted in spring 2025 register broad unfavorable views of Israel and of Netanyahu specifically across many democracies, with no more than a third in any surveyed country expressing confidence in him on world affairs and majorities in many countries viewing Israel unfavorably [2]. The Pew Research Center’s cross-national data highlight consistent patterns: younger respondents and those on the political left are especially likely to report negative views, while right-leaning respondents are more sympathetic. The pattern is mirrored in multiple Western countries where three-quarters or more hold unfavorable impressions in places such as France, Germany, Australia, Greece and Sweden, underscoring a widespread reputational problem tied to policy choices and the Gaza war. These cross-country perceptions matter for diplomacy, trade, and international legitimacy even if they do not directly translate to immediate policy change.
2. The American split: Republicans rally, Democrats and younger voters move away
In the United States, polling through mid-2025 shows a clear partisan divide: Republicans largely support Netanyahu and Israel’s military actions, while Democrats and younger adults have tilted sharply negative, producing a rare majority of Americans with an unfavorable view according to Gallup’s July 2025 snapshot [1]. That Gallup finding — the first time a majority of Americans expressed a negative view — coincides with record-low American support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, suggesting the conflict drove the shift. This partisan sorting amplifies the diplomatic complexity Washington faces: public pressure for restraint or review in some constituencies contrasts with strong institutional US military and financial support, revealing dissonance between public sentiment and policy continuity [6] [1].
3. Israelis’ views: accountability demands versus electoral realities
Inside Israel, opinion is more conflicted: surveys in 2025 show both a large share of citizens demanding Netanyahu take responsibility and resign for October 7 failures and a separate set of polls showing his party retaining plurality support and stable approval around 40 percent [5] [3]. The Israel Democracy Institute found 72.5% saying he should take responsibility, with many calling for immediate resignation, but this coexists with Likud’s polling strength and a political system that entrenches bloc loyalties. Analysts point to the absence of a convincing alternative leadership and demographic shifts toward more right-leaning voters as reasons why Netanyahu’s personal unpopularity does not necessarily equate to electoral collapse [4]. The result is a tense mix of accountability demands and pragmatic voting behavior.
4. Allies’ criticism and the limits of international pressure
Throughout 2025, several allied governments publicly criticized Israeli conduct in Gaza and signaled reassessments of ties, including moves by some EU members to review agreements, and vocal rebukes from leaders in Europe over civilian suffering [6]. That criticism demonstrates a narrowing of political tolerance abroad and a reputational cost for Netanyahu’s decisions, yet it has not uniformly translated into punitive policy shifts because strategic ties, US support, and on-the-ground realities complicate decisive measures [6] [7]. Washington’s posture remains central: while rhetorical pressure and review processes appear more frequent, continued US military and financial backing limited the immediate diplomatic leverage available to force big changes in Israeli leadership choices.
5. Reconciling seemingly contradictory facts: unpopularity and resilience
The apparent paradox — low personal approval and international confidence combined with sustained domestic party dominance — reflects structural and psychological dynamics. Voters in Israel are geographically and ideologically sorted into durable blocs, making cross-cutting shifts rare; the lack of a credible alternative leadership and the belief among many that Netanyahu is the one who can manage crises keep his party afloat despite low personal ratings [4] [3]. Internationally, demographic and ideological cleavages (age, left-right) drive negative views, which affect soft power rather than immediate regime change [2]. Taken together, the evidence shows Netanyahu is largely disliked or distrusted outside his core base and among younger and left-leaning groups, yet remains politically resilient at home because of institutional dynamics and the absence of compelling replacements [1] [5] [4].