More than half of Israelis hesitate before revealing their nationality abroad, a new study has found.
The survey, conducted by the Center for Jewish Impact (CJI), showed that more than 40 per cent of respondents had changed holiday plans since October 7, while 70 per cent assessed Israeli public diplomacy as ineffective, and only 23 per cent believed Israel effectively communicates its policies and positions to international audiences.
A further 33 per cent identified formulating a long-term national strategy for public diplomacy and communication as the most critical step required to improve Israel’s global standing, whilst 25 per cent identified the most critical step to be changes in governmental policy and decision-making processes.
Only 14 per cent of those surveyed believe that Israel’s international standing cannot be significantly improved.
Since October 7, there has been a marked uptick in instances of abuse against Israeli tourists amid a global surge in anti-Israeli and antisemitic sentiment.
Videos of Israeli tourists being harassed in cafes and other public spaces have circulated online, often attracting thousands of views.
Meanwhile, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, 15 Israeli athletes and their teams were sent death threats, promising to kill them if they entered France and threatening to repeat the 1972 Munich massacre, which saw 11 Israeli athletes and coaches murdered by Black September, a Palestinian militant group.
Earlier this year, Israeli tourists in Mongolia were attacked by a man armed with an axe, shouting antisemitic slurs including “Heil Hitler”, according to The Times of Israel. The incident occurred after the armed man overheard the group speaking Hebrew, and one man suffered a fractured jaw.
In July, the National Center for Combatting Antisemitism reported that a group of 11 Israeli tourists were attacked at a beach in Budva, Montenegro, after telling a group of men they were from Israel.
The attackers allegedly shouted “free Palestine” and “f*** Israel” before leaving and returning with another dozen or so men.
The group then verbally abused, threatened and physically attacked the Israelis, who were punched, kicked, chased and hit with chairs, while one had a cigarette put out on him.
And in early August an IDF reservist was harassed by a Spanish tourist at a cafe on Siargao Island in the Philippines, with the assailant calling him a baby killer, threatening to kill him and punching him before being restrained.
The Israeli government has issued several warnings to Israelis travelling abroad about the prospect of antizionist violence. In 2024, Israel’s National Security Council identified a “continuous trend of heightened threats” against Israelis abroad, warning against travel to Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Iran in particular.
Robert Singer, chair of the CJI, commented: “The data illustrates an Israeli society that firmly believes in its capacity to stand together, yet recognises how long the road ahead remains.
“The fact that the vast majority believes in the potential for cohesion is a true source of optimism, but the wide gap between the abstract belief in unity and the trust in actual coexistence between different communities requires immediate action.”
He also called on Israel to urgently develop a long-term strategic plan, both to strengthen Israeli society from within and to bolster its global standing and partnerships with the Jewish world.
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