Assailed by political opponents and investigated by police over corruption allegations, Benjamin Netanyahu might be forgiven for thinking that there’s no end to the tzoures coming his way.

But at last there is some good news for the Israeli prime minister – in the United States, they love him.

According to an annual Gallup survey, Mr Netanyahu is the most admired foreign, democratically elected male leader among Americans, and ninth overall on the list of most admired men.

Around one per cent of respondents selected him, putting him ahead of US Vice-President Mike Pence and the Dalai Lama, and only just behind Bill Gates and Jewish failed presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

I know you were all wondering. So, according to the company that conducted the survey: the number of people who actually answered ‘Netanyahu’ was... eight (less than 1% of 1,049 participants) https://t.co/GfsAunKJuj

— Noa Landau (@noa_landau) December 29, 2017

Former President Barack Obama was America's most admired man for the 10th year in a row, with 17 per cent of the vote.

President Donald Trump finished second with 14 per cent.

Third was Pope Francis.

Hillary Clinton was the most admired woman in the world by Americans.