Australians have more negative view of Israel than of China – Essential poll
A new Guardian Essential poll reveals that Australians hold a more negative view of Israel than of China, with 44% of respondents having a negative opinion of Israel compared to 40% for China. The poll also found that Australians have the most positive views of New Zealand, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Background
- The Guardian Essential Poll is a weekly national survey of Australian public opinion conducted by the Guardian newspaper and the research firm Essential Media. It is one of the country's most cited political barometers.
- This poll result (from July 2026) comes against a backdrop of the Israel-Gaza war (ongoing since October 7, 2023), which has sharply polarised public opinion worldwide. Australia has a significant Jewish and Palestinian-Australian population, and the war has been a prominent issue in Australian politics and media.
- China is Australia's largest trading partner, but bilateral relations have been strained since 2020–21 due to disputes over trade (Australian wine, barley, coal), espionage allegations, and Australia's concerns about Chinese influence in the Pacific. Unlike Israel, China is not generally seen in Australia through a military-conflict lens.