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Türkiye ranks among the most negative toward Israel in a 24-nation Pew survey, with 93% of Turkish adults expressing unfavorable views of the Jewish state in polling conducted this spring.
The comprehensive survey, which included 28,333 adults across countries in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, found Türkiye at the top of nations with the strongest negative sentiment toward Israel. The poll was conducted through face-to-face interviews in Türkiye between Jan. 8 and April 26, 2025.
Türkiye's position reflects a broader international pattern identified in the Pew study, where 20 of the 24 countries surveyed showed unfavorable views of Israel among half or more of their populations. However, Türkiye's 93% unfavorable rating places it among the most critical, alongside seven other nations where three-quarters or more hold negative views: Australia, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.
The survey results come as most of the fieldwork took place after violence between Israel and Hamas resumed following a brief cease-fire. While surveys in some countries began during the cease-fire period, the majority of data collection occurred after hostilities renewed.
Turkish confidence in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of world affairs mirrors the country's negative views of Israel itself. According to the survey data, 94% of Turkish adults lack confidence in Netanyahu to do the right thing regarding international matters, representing one of the highest levels of distrust globally.
The findings place Türkiye among countries with the lowest confidence levels in the Israeli leader, alongside Australia, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden, where around three-quarters of adults or more express little or no confidence in Netanyahu. In many of these nations, including Türkiye, a majority say they have no confidence in him at all.
The Pew Research Center's analysis focused on public opinion of both Israel and Netanyahu across diverse geographical regions, also measuring views of other countries including the United States, Russia and China, as well as other world leaders. The survey methodology varied by country, with face-to-face interviews conducted in Türkiye, Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria and South Africa.
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