Overview

• Naftali Bennett declared that Israel’s international image has suffered so drastically that it is now viewed as a “leper state” by many in the United States.
• A Gallup poll found only 32 percent of Americans now support Israel’s Gaza war, marking a 10-point drop since September 2024.
• Bennett attributes the decline to mismanaged messaging under Prime Minister Netanyahu, pointing to failures in countering narratives about Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and rising antisemitism.
• In April, two of Netanyahu’s aides were arrested over suspected ties to Qatari officials, intensifying concerns about government credibility amid the war.
• Bennett has registered a new party, Bennett 2026, positioning himself for a comeback challenge to Netanyahu in the upcoming elections.