Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged that his administration and Israel have become less popular among the American public, attributing the shift to the expansion of social media and state-backed manipulation.
Of Americans viewed the Israeli people unfavorably in 2026, up from 28% in 2019.
A July survey by the Pew Research Center found that Americans have become more critical of both the Israeli people and the Israeli government in recent years. In 2026, 42% of Americans viewed the Israeli people unfavorably, up from 28% in 2019. Favorable views of the Israeli government fell to 32% from 41% over the same period.
There's been a change because of the proliferation of social media.
Netanyahu blamed the decline on social media and what he described as manipulation by sovereign states using bot farms. He said there is a direct relationship between the rise of these platforms and the erosion of support. He emphasized his desire for bipartisan support for Israel.
The diplomatic erosion comes amid ongoing international scrutiny. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister over allegations of war crimes in Gaza. More than 73,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of Israel's offensive in October 2023. A truce was reached in October 2025, but Israel continued attacks on Gaza despite the deal.