Majority in 36 Countries Hold Negative Views of Israel: Pew Survey

The survey was conducted between February 8 and May 13 and included interviews with 44,657 adults across 36 countries and territories. Most interviews were conducted after the launch of a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran on February 28.

On average, 67% of adults surveyed expressed unfavorable views of Israel, while only 25% reported favorable opinions.

Negative perceptions of Israel were particularly strong in Muslim-majority countries and territories, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey, and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. (No survey was conducted in Gaza due to the ongoing situation there.)

Across Europe, every country included in the survey recorded more negative than positive views of Israel. In Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, nearly half or more of adults described their views of Israel as “very unfavorable.”

In contrast, some countries in sub-Saharan Africa recorded the most favorable opinions of Israel among those surveyed.

Generational and Political Divides

The survey found notable age differences in several countries, particularly in North America and Europe, where younger adults were generally more likely than older adults to hold negative views of Israel.

In Hungary, for example, 72% of adults aged 18 to 34 expressed unfavorable views of Israel, compared with 45% among those aged 50 and older.

Political ideology also played a significant role. In many countries, people on the political left were considerably more likely than those on the right to view Israel negatively.

The divide was most pronounced in the United States, where 83% of liberals described Israel negatively, compared with 37% of conservatives.

In Australia, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden, around nine in ten or more left-leaning respondents held unfavorable views of Israel. In each of these countries, negative sentiment among the left exceeded that among the right by at least 23 percentage points.

Negative Views Have Increased Since 2025

Among the 24 countries where comparable data from 2025 were available, unfavorable views of Israel increased in 13 countries.

In Argentina, for instance, the share of people with negative views of Israel rose from 46% in 2025 to 55% in 2026, making negative sentiment the majority view.

The proportion of respondents expressing “very unfavorable” opinions of Israel also increased by at least 10 percentage points in countries such as Australia, Italy, Nigeria, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

Greece was the only country where views of Israel became somewhat more favorable compared with the previous year. Even so, only 30% of Greeks expressed a favorable opinion of Israel.

Little Confidence in Netanyahu

The survey also found widespread skepticism toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In most countries surveyed, majorities said they had “not too much” or “no confidence at all” in Netanyahu’s ability to make the right decisions regarding world affairs.

Countries where large majorities expressed little or no confidence in Netanyahu included Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

In roughly half of the countries surveyed, at least 50% of adults said they had “no confidence at all” in Netanyahu.

Only Kenya and the Philippines recorded majority levels of confidence in the Israeli leader.

As with views of Israel, confidence in Netanyahu varied by age and political ideology. Younger adults and those on the political left were generally more likely than older adults and conservatives to express little or no confidence in him.

In Hungary, adults under 35 were 23 percentage points more likely than those aged 50 and older to say they had little or no confidence in Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, in Australia, Canada, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States, left-leaning respondents were at least 25 percentage points more likely than right-leaning respondents to say they had no confidence at all in Netanyahu.

Confidence in Netanyahu Declining

Among the 24 countries where previous data were available, confidence in Netanyahu declined in 13 countries compared with 2025.

The sharpest drop was recorded in South Korea, where 76% of adults now say they have little or no confidence in Netanyahu, up from 64% last year.

In nearly half of the countries where the question was asked in both years, the share of people saying they had “no confidence at all” in Netanyahu increased by at least 10 percentage points.

In Italy, for example, the proportion rose from 45% in 2025 to 62% in 2026.

India Stands Out

India emerged as a notable exception in the Asia-Pacific region.

Only 28% of Indians expressed unfavorable views of Israel, while 32% reported favorable opinions, making India the country with the lowest level of negative sentiment toward Israel among those surveyed.

India also stood out regarding confidence in Netanyahu. Just 27% of respondents expressed little or no confidence in him, while 34% said they had confidence in the Israeli prime minister.

The findings highlight a growing global trend of negative public sentiment toward Israel and declining confidence in Netanyahu, particularly among younger people and those on the political left in many countries.