Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent international engagements have become a focal point of political messaging amid escalating tensions at home and shifting global perceptions of Israel. A planned meeting in New York was abruptly shortened, with officials attributing the change to security concerns involving a potential threat to Netanyahu’s safety. The decision to cut the visit short was framed as a precautionary measure, with the prime minister also accelerating his meetings with South American leaders to return in time for the Sukkot holiday.
However, government officials have largely refrained from addressing a growing issue of international concern: a significant decline in Israel’s favorability among the American public. A recent survey indicated a sharp erosion in U.S. support over the past eight years, with Israel’s net favorability rating dropping from 51 percent positive to 16 percent negative. This shift, while more marked among Democrats, spans political affiliations and reflects changing attitudes toward Israel and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
On the ground, violence continues to escalate in the West Bank, prompting increased military preparedness. Recently, Netanel Shakron, an Israeli settler from Alei Zahav, was killed in an attack near Ramallah, and a reserve soldier, Neria Leiter, was critically injured in a car-ramming incident at a checkpoint near Modi’in. The Israeli military has expressed concern about the potential for further lone-wolf attacks and a wave of copycat violence, particularly as regional tensions coincide with upcoming elections, the Jewish holiday period, and the olive harvest season. Settler violence has also reportedly risen sharply in recent months.
In response, Israel’s military leadership has initiated adjustments in force deployment. On Wednesday, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir ordered the establishment of an additional divisional headquarters in the West Bank. The new command unit will oversee areas including Bethlehem and Hebron, while the existing Judea and Samaria Division will continue managing the zone north of Jerusalem. Observers note, however, that this shift represents a reallocation rather than a substantial increase in troops, raising questions about the effectiveness and immediacy of the new deployment amid growing unrest.
Political leaders, including Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Katz, have portrayed Israel’s current stance as a recovery from the unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, emphasizing a narrative of regained regional strength and deterrence. Yet some security experts dispute this portrayal. Brig. Gen. (res.) Assaf Orion, a former head of the General Staff’s Strategic Division, criticized the government’s approach as lacking a coherent security strategy. He said the prior concept of security was effectively dismantled by the October attack and replaced without adequate debate or assessment.
Orion also pointed to the political dimension underlying recent policy shifts in the West Bank. He highlighted efforts by influential figures such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to pursue aggressive initiatives aimed at annexation and the implementation of what is described as a “Decisive Plan” for the region. Smotrich, who holds ministerial responsibility over the West Bank, is said to be driving these policies from within the Defense Ministry. Critics argue that these actions contribute to heightened tensions and complicate prospects for de-escalation in the area.