Published: 16 June 2026
Last updated: 16 June 2026
Australians rank among the world's most critical populations when it comes to views of Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a major new survey by the Pew Research Center.
The findings form part of a broader global trend. Across the 36 countries surveyed, majorities in most nations expressed an unfavourable view of Israel and little or no confidence in Netanyahu.
Australia sits towards the most critical end of the spectrum with 79 per cent of respondents expressing an unfavourable view. Only six countries – Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia and the West Bank – had a lower level of support for Israel, with another four – Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden – recording similarly high levels of unfavourability. Australia stands out among Anglo-Western democracies, posting more negative views than the US, Canada and Britain.
The findings, drawn from Pew's Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey, suggest attitudes have become even more negative over the past year.
Overall, 79 per cent of Australians now hold an unfavourable view of Israel, including 49 per cent who describe their opinion as "very unfavourable". Just 19 per cent express a favourable view.
The figures represent a further deterioration from 2025, when 74 per cent of Australians held an unfavourable view of Israel and 25 per cent viewed the country favourably. The five-point increase in negative sentiment is among the more significant year-on-year shifts recorded by Pew.
Comments8
JM4 July at 07:28 am
To Susan Bures. If you go to the research you can find the detail of methodology. It’s all quite transparent.
Rachel Sussman25 June at 03:39 am
We all want to be loved and liked – it is a human condition. We also know that those who make choices to please and be liked, sell their Souls…
Yes the anti-Israel/Zionist/antisemitic movement is growing around the world and not surprisingly, especially withing young people who are exposed to one sided misinformation, education, and often false narratives.
Blaming Bib, or policies may make us feel good, but is really ‘blood leibel’.
Of course many do not like Bibi and object current government policies and actions – that is ok. But many do not like the leaders, policies and actions of Russia, China, Iran, USA, etc. yet no ‘movement’ is calling to exterminate these countries/ people. Yes, they are criticised but people still visit them, buy their products, there is no call for intifada against the.
So I suggest that we wake up and call a spade a spade, stop looking for ‘something to blame’, fight to educate so that the same that is afforded to other countries/people is afforded to us and Israel.
Sure, we can criticise Israelis policies and leaders, speak up, but please let us not fall into this ‘blame’; remember they hated us before Israel!
Deborah Stone22 June at 01:39 pm
Please follow the link to the full report for an explanation of the data.
Kati haworth22 June at 01:43 am
How do I interpret results that don’t add to 100? There is one country that only adds to 60 when totalling the nay and the yay. What do the percentages mean when there is such a gap? Please explain as I think it skews the interpretation.