A new Israeli survey found President Donald Trump’s standing has fallen sharply following his administration’s Iran agreement and public friction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump’s popularity in Israel has declined sharply in the weeks following his administration’s agreement with Iran and escalating tensions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a new survey published by the Kantar Institute and the Israeli daily Hayom.
The poll, cited by Israeli commentator Amit Segal, found that Trump’s favorability among Israelis has shifted dramatically in just three weeks.
In late May, Trump had a 58% approval rating in Israel, compared with 35% disapproval. That made him one of the most popular political figures among Israeli respondents at the time.
The latest survey found that his net favorability has fallen from plus-16 points to minus-23 points. The drop places him behind Netanyahu, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot in the poll.
The steepest change came among voters considered central to Israel’s next election. Three weeks ago, voters from the 2022 opposition bloc viewed Trump favorably by a 74%-20% margin. The new survey found that 48% of those voters now view him negatively, while 46% remain favorable.
The decline appears connected to two major issues: Israeli criticism of Trump’s agreement with Iran and anger over his recent remarks about Netanyahu.
Trump recently confirmed reports that he called Netanyahu “f***ing crazy” during a tense phone call over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon. Trump said he was “perturbed” by Netanyahu’s “constant fighting with Lebanon,” though he also said he liked the Israeli prime minister and worked well with him.
Multiple reports also said Trump told Netanyahu, “You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me,” while accusing him of harming Israel’s international standing.
Trump later warned that Israel could find itself “on its own” if it resumed military action against Iran. He also said Netanyahu would have “no choice” but to accept a U.S.-brokered agreement with Tehran.
Netanyahu has responded carefully in public while continuing to defend Israel’s right to act independently against Iran and Hezbollah. In recent days, he agreed to “hold fire” at Trump’s request, but he has also stressed that Israel reserves the right to defend itself.
The Israeli leader has signaled opposition to central elements of the U.S.-Iran understanding, particularly any terms that could limit Israel’s military freedom of action.
Many Israeli critics have described the memorandum of understanding with Iran as a “surrender,” arguing that it offers sanctions relief and a path toward normalization without securing the broader objectives Israel pursued during the recent conflict.
Leaked portions of the agreement reportedly suggest Iran will agree to a long-term peace deal only if Israel leaves Lebanon and stops attacking Hezbollah. Critics say those terms would preserve Iran’s regime, ease pressure on Tehran before a final settlement and constrain Israel’s ability to act against Iranian-backed threats.
The reported possibility of $300 billion in reconstruction aid for Iran has added to Israeli criticism. Opponents of the agreement argue that Tehran has caused extensive damage across the Middle East over several decades and should not receive major economic support without stronger concessions.
Concerns over transparency have also fueled backlash. Reports indicated that Israeli officials were initially denied access to the agreement’s text.
The polling shift could affect Israeli politics as the country moves toward its next election. Netanyahu may now have an opening to frame himself not primarily as Trump’s closest ally in Israel, but as a leader willing to resist Washington when he believes Israeli security is at stake.
For now, the survey suggests that Trump’s once-strong standing among Israeli voters has been damaged by the Iran agreement, his criticism of Netanyahu and the unresolved question of how the deal could affect Israel’s operations in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and against Iran-backed groups.
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