A new poll from Gallup shows that Israelis and Americans have particularly low approval ratings for the United Nations' performance. In Israel, only 9% of people approve of the UN's actions, resulting in a net rating of -61. Similarly, most Americans believe the UN is not effectively handling its central objectives such as humanitarian assistance and maintaining peace and security. This poll comes at a time when the UN faces challenges like addressing global conflicts and divisions, exacerbated by President Donald Trump’s criticism and Israel’s accusations of bias against it.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
According to a new Gallup survey, Americans and Israelis have some of the lowest approval ratings for the United Nations, reflecting deep dissatisfaction. In particular, only 9% of Israelis approve of UN actions, resulting in a net rating of -61, the most negative among all countries polled. This comes amid challenges such as humanitarian crises and global conflicts, exacerbated by former US President Donald Trump's hostility toward many UN initiatives. The Israeli government has repeatedly accused the UN of bias against Israel during its conflicts, including the war in Gaza. In May, Israeli foreign secretary described the organization as "politicized and corrupt" that targets Israel. These sentiments coincide with a period leading up to the next UN Secretary General appointment in December 2026, highlighting divisions within the Security Council itself.
Written for “UN Approval Ratings Poll” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Americans and Israelis are among the countries that disapprove most heavily of the United Nations performance, according to a new poll.
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that → disapprove → poll
Israelis are the most negative in their view of the UN, with just 9 per cent of people approving its actions and a net rating of -61, according to the Gallup survey.
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cent → approve → survey
The figures come during a difficult period for the UN, as it attempts to address humanitarian disasters and wars during a time of deepening global division, and a US president in Donald Trump who has been hostile towards many UN initiatives.
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who → come → initiatives
The Israeli government, in particular, has repeatedly accused the body if bias against it as it waged its war in Gaza.
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it → accuse → Gaza
In May, Israeli foreign secretary described the UN as a “politicized and corrupt organization that has abandoned its founding principles and systematically targets Israel as its primary mission”.
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that → describe → mission
This week the UN held its general assembly meeting in New York, with speeches from Trump, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian among others.
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UN → hold → others
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, speaking at the opening of the general debate, told delegates that “violence, displacement and settlement expansion by Israel in the Occupied West Bank are bulldozing the path to peace and raising the spectre of ethnic cleansing”.
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violence → speak → cleansing
Americans are similarly unimpressed by the agency, , with the majority saying the UN is doing a poor job in five of its central objectives: humanitarian assistance (53%), supporting development (63%), protecting human rights (70%), upholding international law (70%), maintaining peace and security (73%), Gallup found.
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Gallup → say → peace
Trump has repeatedly stated the UN is ineffective as a global peacemaker compared to his administration.
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UN → state → administration
“What is the purpose of the United Nations?” Trump asked during his 2025 speech at the UN General Assembly.
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Trump → ask → Assembly
“It’s not even coming close to living up to potential.
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It → come → potential
For the past two decades, Americans have largely supported the institution’s existence but “don’t think it is doing an effective job of handling the problems it has faced”, Gallup said.
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Gallup → support → problems
“The last time a majority of Americans approved of the job the UN was doing was in the period after 9/11,” it added.
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it → approve → 9/11
“The UN has many global roles beyond keeping the peace, but even in those areas, Americans are more critical than approving of its performance.
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Americans → have → performance
But the picture for the UN is far more positive around the rest of the world, which is overall more positive then negative about the organisation’s performance, with the UN enjoying a median approval rating of 50 per cent, with a net approval score of +24.
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UN → enjoy → +24
Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa gave the strongest regional support to the UN, with approval exceeding disapproval by 51 and 43 points, Gallup said in an analysis of the results.
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Gallup → give → results
In 67 countries, the UN enjoys more than 50 per cent approval of its performance, compared to just nine countries where more than 50 per cent disapprove.
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cent → enjoy → countries
The next secretary general, who will replace incumbent Guterres when his final term ends in December 2026, will inherit “an organization with a considerable base of public goodwill but also sharp differences in how it is viewed around the world”, Gallup analyst Julie Ray said, adding that the divisions “extend into the security council itself”.
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divisions → replace → council
“In some places, the challenge may be less about overcoming negative views than about building familiarity and understanding,” she added.
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she → overcome → familiarity
“Where opinions are less settled, showing what the UN does and what it delivers may be especially important.”
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it → settle → what
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