US President Trump once told Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, "Israel is not liked because of what you do." Just days after these remarks, the results of an international survey about Israel were released. According to the PEW survey, Israel is unpopular. Among the 36 countries surveyed, only India, Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria view Israel positively.
Across these 36 countries, an average of 67% of adults have a negative view of Israel, while only 25% view it positively. All 10 European countries surveyed hold a negative view of Israel. Some of the negative perception rates in these countries are as follows:
54% in Hungary, 60% in the US, 65% in Canada, 69% in the UK, 75% in Australia, 78% in Sweden, 78% in Spain, 83% in Japan, and 97% in Turkey. In some countries, the view of Israel changes with a change in government. In Slovenia, the new Prime Minister Janez Jansa removed the Palestinian flag that the previous Prime Minister Robert Golob had displayed on the Parliament building.
In response, President Natasa Pirc Musar made a significant gesture to oppose the new Prime Minister. President Musar hung the Palestinian flag at the Presidential Palace, recalling Israel's alleged genocide against Palestinians. Slovenia's new Prime Minister Jansa is known as a supporter of Trump and Israel.
Jansa announced plans to move Slovenia's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and to cancel the previous government's recognition of Palestine. Allegations surfaced that the new Prime Minister worked with an Israeli intelligence agency, which was found to have conducted influence operations in Slovenian elections.
Claims of Israeli interference are not limited to Slovenia. In France, discussions about Israeli interference in the local elections scheduled for March 2026 have taken on a new dimension. Details emerged about a smear campaign conducted by Israel against candidates from a left-wing party, particularly in the cities of Marseille, Toulouse, and Roubaix.
The pro-Palestinian party La France Insoumise (LFI) faced efforts not only in these three cities but also in many other areas, where three Israeli companies intervened to prevent their candidates from winning. Two Tel Aviv-based tech companies, Galacticos and SNI Digital, along with another Israeli firm, BlackCore, launched a large-scale online operation to discredit LFI candidates.
Websites and social media accounts controlled by these Israeli companies spread allegations against LFI candidates, including accusations of sexual assault and other criminal behaviors. Digital ads containing these claims were also disseminated. Israel's interference in France's local elections is seen as a rehearsal for the presidential elections scheduled for 2027.
Information that Israeli tech firms plan to start discrediting anti-Israel candidates from the first round of the presidential elections has raised concerns. Jews are influential not only in French politics but also in business, arts, culture, and governance. Israel openly supports far-right French politicians Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen in elections.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that La France Insoumise is represented in the French Parliament by 71 deputies. Israeli intelligence activities have occasionally extended to the United States. Recently, it was revealed that MOSSAD monitored senior American officials. The crisis came to light through a seven-page report prepared by the Pentagon.
According to the report, MOSSAD attempted to gather information on what senior US officials discussed in meetings regarding the wars in Iran and Lebanon. Evidence was found that MOSSAD surveilled high-level American officials. Following these developments, the Pentagon raised the counterintelligence threat level against Israel to the highest level, 'Critical.'
The Israeli Embassy in Washington denied the allegations. Another country where Israeli interference claims have been discussed is Azerbaijan. Baku reacted strongly to a claim made by American media. CNN alleged that Israel deployed special forces along with MOSSAD agents to Azerbaijan to rescue pilots of downed aircraft during the war.
It was claimed that Israeli commandos were stationed in a region 90 km from Iran's city of Tabriz. Azerbaijan's Israeli Embassy vehemently denied the allegations, reminding that Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated it would never allow its territory to be used for such operations and accused CNN of betraying journalistic ethics.
In Israel, where early elections have been called, a development has alarmed Netanyahu. Four Arab parties in Israel decided to run jointly in the elections. This decision is expected to change the balance in the Parliament. Public opinion polls indicate that the alliance of Arab parties, supported also by Israeli left-wing groups, could win between 13 and 16 seats.
This would make the Arab parties' alliance one of the strongest groups in the Israeli Parliament and a key player in government formation. Netanyahu, viewing this development as a major threat, is preparing steps to prevent these parties from participating in the elections and to impose political bans on their leaders. *This content was prepared by freelance journalists or guest writers.
The views and expressions in this content belong to the author and may not reflect Independent Turkish's editorial policy. Umut Berhan Şen The latest on Peru elections: The geopolitical fault line in the Andes Mountains has shifted.
