Nearly half of Americans want Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be arrested by U.S. authorities during his visit to the United States, according to an Economist/YouGov poll cited by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
The survey found that 49% of respondents supported seeing Netanyahu arrested, including 74% of voters who supported former Vice President Kamala Harris and 23% of voters who supported President Donald Trump. [1] The same poll reported that 54% of Americans view Netanyahu unfavorably, and 47% believe he is guilty of war crimes and has damaged U.S.-Israel relations. [1] The findings come as Netanyahu visits Washington for meetings with Trump and to attend the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a longtime ally of Israel.
Poll Findings on Netanyahu’s Image
A separate YouGov poll published July 23 produced similar results, with 46% of respondents saying Netanyahu should be arrested if he entered the U.S., while 28% said he should not. [1] That survey found that 28% of Republicans and 68% of Democrats supported the Israeli leader's arrest. [1] The partisan divide underscores the deepening rift in American public opinion over Netanyahu's leadership and the ongoing war in Gaza.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. [2] The warrants marked the first time the ICC has charged senior officials of a Western-allied state. [2] The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the court, and both Israel and the U.S. have rejected the ICC's jurisdiction. [3]
Netanyahu has also faced mounting international legal pressure. In April 2026, Turkey formally accused him of war crimes and crimes against humanity, describing him as the "Hitler of our time" in a statement from its foreign ministry. [4] The Netherlands designated Israel as a security threat in July 2025, marking a shift in diplomatic ties. [5]
Official Reactions
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, called Netanyahu a "war criminal" and urged federal authorities to enforce the ICC arrest warrant. [6] In a social media video, Mamdani said he does not have the authority to make an arrest himself but called on U.S. officials to act. [6] The U.S. is not an ICC member state, meaning federal authorities are not obligated to execute the warrant, but Mamdani argued that the moral obligation remains.
Trump responded directly to the prospect of an arrest, stating that Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape or form while in the United States of America." [1] Trump's statement came as he hosted Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, July 28 for discussions on Middle East policy – including the war in Gaza and tensions with Iran. [7]
Context of Netanyahu's Visit
Netanyahu's visit to Washington comes just under three months before Israel's general election, where he faces a challenge from a unified opposition led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. [7] [8] During his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu was expected to push for the U.S. to restart strikes on Iran, according to reports. [1] The discussions also covered the ongoing war in Gaza, where the ICC warrant for Netanyahu stems from allegations of war crimes and the use of starvation as a weapon. [9] [2]
Netanyahu also attended a memorial dinner for Graham, who was known for his staunch support for Tel Aviv. [1] The visit was characterized by a lower public profile than previous trips, reflecting Trump's reported frustration with the Israeli leader's defiance on issues such as settlement expansion and Iran policy. [7]
Conclusion
The poll results reflect significant public sentiment against Netanyahu during his U.S. visit, with a clear partisan divide. A majority of Democrats support his arrest, while a majority of Republicans oppose it, according to the survey data. [1] The ICC warrant and growing international isolation have not altered Netanyahu's determination to secure re-election, but the domestic polling suggests that American public opinion is increasingly critical of his leadership and the policies of his government.
References
- Dave DeCamp. "Poll: 49% of Americans Want Netanyahu Arrested During His Visit to the US." Antiwar.com. July 28, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. "WAR CRIMES ICC issues arrest warrants for Israels Netanyahu Gallant in legal condemnation of western countries s." November 24, 2024.
- Trends-Journal-2024-05-18.
- Garrison Vance. "Turkey Accuses Israeli PM of War Crimes, Issues Formal Statement Comparing Him to Hitler." NaturalNews.com. April 13, 2026.
- Kevin Hughes. "Netherlands names Israel as a SECURITY THREAT marking a shift in diplomatic ties." NaturalNews.com. July 31, 2025.
- BBC News. "Mamdani walks back pledge to arrest Netanyahu citing lack of authority." July 22, 2026.
- Yasmine El-Sabawi. "Netanyahu's quiet visit to Washington highlights Trump's frustration with the leader." Middle East Eye. July 28, 2026.
- Mera Aladam. "Former Israeli PMs Bennett and Lapid merge parties ahead of elections." Middle East Eye. April 27, 2026.
- Hamza Yusuf. "Israel is continuing the genocide but the UK media will not tell you." NaturalNews.com. March 18, 2025.
- NaturalNews.com. "ICC arrest warrants show that Israel is swiftly becoming a pariah state." November 26, 2024.
- Jamie Stern-Weiner. "Deluge Gaza and Israel from Crisis to Cataclysm."
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