“You need leaders who can protect you.” That was Benjamin Netanyahu’s “pitch” to Hungarian voters, made in a video posted January 16, 2026. Israel’s Prime Minister followed this with a specific endorsement: “Viktor Orban has these qualities in abundance”. Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli has made a habit of providing similar unsolicited endorsements in foreign elections, including Donald Trump in 2024, Jordan Bardella (National Rally candidate for Prime Minister of France), the same year and Pierre Poilievre for Prime Minister of Canada in 2025. 

These endorsements were predicated on these candidates and their parties being opposed to Islamism, Hamas, and the ICC, while also supporting Israel and “Western civilization”. An Israeli desire to encourage an international strengthening of this vision is understandable. But explicit endorsements circulated publicly damage both Israel and Diaspora communities. 

There has never been a shortage of narratives framing Diaspora Jewish communities as “fifth columns” serving Israeli political aims. Statements like Chikli’s only feed the conspiracy machine, endangering the communities themselves and compromising Israel’s diplomatic and security interests. 

Staking reputational capital on an election outcome is a losing investment. If Israel’s favored candidate loses, it has now alienated a newly elected government before it even takes office. In some cases (Pedro Sanchez in Spain and Jean-Luc Melanchon in France), there is clearly no possibility of building a positive relationship with Israel based on shared interests. Endorsing their rivals was unlikely to cost Israel anything it had not already lost. 

This is not always true. Bibi endorsed Orban in 2026. Yet there is little substantive........

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