Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said international support for Israel is stronger behind closed doors than public opinion polls suggest.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News host Jacqui Heinrich on July 6, 2026, Netanyahu responded to remarks attributed to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance that public sentiment, particularly among younger voters, is increasingly turning against Israel.
Netanyahu argued that much of the negative perception of Israel is driven by anti-Israel and antisemitic content circulating on social media. Despite this, he said many world leaders privately express support for Israel while managing domestic political pressures.
“Many leaders call me and say, ‘I’ve got this public opinion poll, but I want you to know we respect you.’ They ask about our military capabilities and cyber expertise and seek closer cooperation. So the relations are not quite as they appear,” Netanyahu said.
He cited India as an example of a country where he believes Israel enjoys strong public support, noting positive interactions on social media. Netanyahu also highlighted Israel’s role in protecting Christian communities in the Middle East, including Lebanon, as evidence that its international partnerships extend beyond formal diplomatic relations into security and technological cooperation.
