10 Countries with the Lowest Trust in Israeli PM Netanyahu

The Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey by the Pew Research Center reveals widespread skepticism toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu across many parts of the world.

Conducted between February and May 2026 in 36 countries, the survey found that majorities in most nations expressed little or no confidence in Netanyahu’s ability to do the right thing regarding world affairs.

Among the surveyed countries, Turkey recorded the highest level of distrust, with 95% of respondents expressing little or no confidence in Netanyahu. This reflects the long-standing tensions between Ankara and Israel, which have intensified amid regional conflicts and diplomatic disagreements.

Malaysia ranked second, with 89% lacking confidence in Netanyahu. As a Muslim-majority nation that has traditionally supported the Palestinian cause, Malaysia has consistently displayed strong criticism of Israeli policies.

Italy and Pakistan shared third place at 88%. In Italy, public opinion toward Israel and its leadership has become increasingly negative in recent years, while Pakistan’s strong pro-Palestinian sentiment continues to shape attitudes toward Israeli leaders.

Sweden followed with 84%, reflecting broader trends across Northern Europe, where criticism of Netanyahu and Israeli government policies has grown. Germany came next at 77%, a notable figure given the country’s historically close relationship with Israel. The survey also showed that German confidence in Netanyahu declined compared with 2025.

Indonesia ranked seventh, with 74% expressing little or no confidence. As the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, Indonesia has long supported Palestinian self-determination, and public attitudes toward Israeli leadership remain largely unfavorable.

Spain placed eighth at 73%, continuing a broader European pattern of skepticism toward Netanyahu. Japan and France completed the top ten, each recording 71% with low confidence in the Israeli leader. These figures demonstrate that concerns about Netanyahu’s leadership extend beyond the Middle East and Europe into Asia as well.

Overall, the survey highlights a significant international trust deficit facing Netanyahu in 2026. The findings suggest that negative perceptions of his leadership are widespread across diverse political, cultural, and geographic contexts, making him one of the least trusted global leaders among the publics surveyed by Pew Research Center.