Poll Shows 75% of Italians Hold Negative View of Israel Amid Regional Tensions

A recent poll by the Pew Research Center indicates that three out of four Italians hold a negative view of Israel, with unfavorable attitudes reaching 75%, up from 66% in the previous year. Nearly half of the public expressed a very negative stance, while only 21% held a positive opinion. The data, collected between February and May, highlights a growing chasm between public sentiment and the stance of the government in Rome.

Eroding Trust and Public Backlash

The Pew survey also recorded a sharp decline in personal trust toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with 88% of Italians expressing little or no trust in him, compared to 80% previously. Commentators attribute the deterioration to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as tensions involving Iran and their impact on energy prices.

Public opposition has transcended traditional partisan lines. An Ixè poll from July showed that 61.2% of Italians supported severing diplomatic ties with Israel, spanning across center-right and right-wing voters alike. Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to Italy Jonathan Peled acknowledged in a recent interview with Agenzia Nova that while governmental and economic ties remain strong, the primary challenge lies in securing broader public support.

Controversies Extending to Civil Society

The diplomatic friction has increasingly spilled over into cultural and educational spheres. Recent controversies involved educational delegations from Jewish schools, prompting debates over political tests for participants. Concurrently, leaders of the Italian Jewish community have voiced growing concerns over isolation and rising antisemitism during memorial events, while civil rights advocates emphasize the distinction between criticizing government policies and harboring prejudice against Jewish communities.