Israel is betting on Islamophobia to save its standing in the West

What the report says

An Al Jazeera opinion article by Josh Paul argues that Israel’s government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is increasingly relying on anti-Muslim messaging to shore up support among parts of the Western right as criticism of Israel grows, especially over its conduct in Gaza. The piece says this effort is aimed at reframing Israel as a defender of the West against “radical Islam,” while also discrediting Muslim communities and Israel’s critics.

The article points to a January 2026 anti-Semitism conference in Jerusalem attended by European far-right figures, and says Netanyahu used the gathering to cast far-right allies as partners in opposing what he described as an “invasion of radical Islam.” It also cites examples the author sees as part of a broader campaign, including Israel-linked influence operations in Canada and pro-Israel public relations efforts in the United States.

The author argues that Islamophobia has become more visible in Republican politics and that some Israeli messaging is tailored to that environment. The report links this to wider political trends in the U.S. under President Donald Trump and to rising anti-Muslim hostility in Western countries. As background, the article frames this as a public relations and influence strategy rather than a formal policy admission by Israel, and it cautions that such tactics may not fully reverse Israel’s declining standing abroad.