Israel has become increasingly associated with “genocide” among American students, former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said, describing what he called a major deterioration in the country’s image among the US public.

“For the first time since the establishment of the State of Israel, among the American public, Israel has become a negative brand,” Bennett said in a recent interview on the “Itai Segal Podcast” on the All-In platform.

Bennett said the shift was particularly visible among younger Americans. Asked what an American student might associate with Israel, he said the answer was increasingly “genocide”.

Drawing a comparison with the way countries are often associated with familiar cultural images, Bennett said Israel was now being linked by some young Americans with accusations of killing children.

He rejected that perception as inaccurate and unfair but acknowledged that it represented a serious challenge to Israel’s international image.

Qatar’s influence

Bennett also attributed part of the change in American public opinion to Qatar’s growing influence in the United States.

“Part of this is because we allowed Qatar to operate and build influence for 25 years,” he said, arguing that Israel had underestimated the impact of Qatar’s long-term outreach and influence.

His comments come amid intense international scrutiny of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and growing concern over the humanitarian conditions facing Palestinians in the territory.

A US-backed ceasefire agreement entered into effect in Gaza last October. However, reports cited in the original account said continued violence and alleged violations of the truce had resulted in further Palestinian casualties.

Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported more than 73,000 Palestinian deaths since Israel launched its military campaign in October 2023. The figures include civilians and combatants and are not independently verified by the United Nations in full.

The conflict has also generated major international legal scrutiny. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel has rejected the allegations and challenged the court’s jurisdiction.

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Rabbi’s remarks over West Bank Palestinians

Separately, an Israeli rabbi has faced renewed attention after footage emerged in which he appeared to call for Palestinians to be expelled from the occupied West Bank.

According to Al Jazeera English, Menachem Ben Shahar told a group that Arabs who rejected Jewish sovereignty should leave what he described as the “land of Israel”.

The rabbi also reportedly made comments concerning Palestinian children, including a claim that a five-year-old could lose a right to exist if the child’s parents were regarded as enemies.

The date and exact location of the encounter were not immediately established.

Israeli media previously reported that police detained and questioned Ben Shahar in October 2025 over allegations involving extremist messages and incitement against Palestinians. He had also previously called for the Palestinian town of Huwara to be “wiped out”.

The remarks have drawn attention amid continuing tensions and violence in the occupied West Bank.

International law and settlements

The status of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank remains a major point of international dispute. The United Nations and most of the international community consider Israeli settlements in territory occupied since 1967 illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes.

In a July 2024 advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice concluded that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory was unlawful and said it should end as rapidly as possible.

The developments come as Israel faces mounting diplomatic, legal and public-relations challenges over its policies and military operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Bennett’s remarks reflect growing concern within Israel itself over the country’s standing abroad, particularly among younger generations in Western countries, where attitudes towards the Gaza war have become increasingly contentious.