Former prime minister Naftali Bennett has warned that Israel's standing in the United States is at an all-time low, describing the country as being viewed as a 'leper state.' After a ten-day visit to the United States, Bennett criticized the current Israeli government's public diplomacy, blaming it for eroding bipartisan support and damaging Israel's image abroad. He accused government officials of making inflammatory statements about the war in Gaza, which he said are harming Israel's reputation and potentially endangering its soldiers. Bennett also highlighted the growing perception in the United States that Israel is responsible for starvation in Gaza, and linked the rise in anti-Israel sentiment to a surge in antisemitism affecting American Jews. As he prepares for a political comeback, Bennett positioned himself as a critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and approach to international relations.