Léger: Canadians Grow More Critical of Israel as Concern Over Antisemitism Remains High

Favourability toward Israel declines, even as most Canadians call for more action on antisemitism at home.

New polling from Leger offers a snapshot of how Canadians view Israel amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. While perceptions have grown more negative in recent years, concern about antisemitism at home remains significant.

Overall, the survey finds that just 22% of Canadians hold a favourable view of Israel, down eleven points from a comparable Leger survey in 2023. Meanwhile, 61% now view the country unfavourably.

For context, Canadians’ views of other countries in the survey are also largely negative. The United States has an identical favourability rating of 22%, with 72% viewing it unfavourably. China, meanwhile, is seen favourably by 33% of Canadians and unfavourably by 52%—a notable contrast that speaks to differing perceptions of global actors.