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As the conflict in Gaza persists, Israel’s international isolation appears to be intensifying.
Is the nation approaching a “South Africa moment,” where a confluence of political pressure, economic sanctions, and sporting and cultural boycotts contributed to the dismantling of apartheid in Pretoria?
Or can the right-wing administration of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withstand the diplomatic challenges, enabling Israel to pursue its objectives in Gaza and the occupied West Bank without causing lasting damage to its global reputation?
Former prime ministers Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert have both asserted that Netanyahu is transforming Israel into an international pariah.
Due to a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, the number of nations Netanyahu can visit without the risk of arrest has significantly decreased.
At the UN, several countries, including Britain, France, Australia, Belgium, and Canada, have indicated their intention to recognize Palestine as a state in the coming week.
Furthermore, Gulf states, reacting strongly to the recent Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, convened in Doha to discuss a unified response, with some advocating for a reconsideration of relations with Israel.
Amidst reports of starvation in Gaza and the prospect of an Israeli military incursion into Gaza City, an increasing number of European governments are expressing their discontent through actions beyond mere statements.
Earlier this month, Belgium announced a series of sanctions, including a ban on imports from illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a review of procurement policies with Israeli companies, and restrictions on consular assistance to Belgians residing in settlements.
Belgium also declared hardline Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, along with Jewish settlers accused of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, as persona non grata.
Other nations, including Britain and France, had previously taken similar measures. However, sanctions imposed by the Biden administration on violent settlers last year were rescinded upon Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Following Belgium’s actions, Spain announced its own measures, formalizing an existing de facto arms embargo into law, announcing a partial import ban, prohibiting entry to Spanish territory for anyone involved in genocide or war crimes in Gaza, and barring Israel-bound ships and aircraft carrying weapons from docking at Spanish ports or entering its airspace.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Spain of promoting antisemitic policies and suggested that Spain would suffer more than Israel from the arms trade ban.
Additional concerning signs for Israel have emerged.
In August, Norway’s substantial $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund announced its intention to divest from companies listed in Israel. By mid-month, 23 companies had been removed, and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg indicated that more could follow.
Concurrently, the EU, Israel’s largest trading partner, is considering sanctions against far-right ministers and a partial suspension of trade components within its association agreement with Israel.
During her State of the Union address on September 10, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that events in Gaza had “shaken the conscience of the world.”
The subsequent day, 314 former European diplomats and officials addressed a letter to von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, advocating for more stringent measures, including a complete suspension of the association agreement.
A notable feature of the sanctions imposed on South Africa between the 1960s and the end of apartheid – a system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the white minority government against the country’s black majority – in the 1990s was a series of cultural and sporting boycotts.
Indications of similar actions are beginning to emerge concerning Israel.
While the Eurovision Song Contest may not appear significant in this context, Israel has a distinguished history in the competition, having won it four times since 1973.
For Israel, participation symbolizes the Jewish state’s acceptance within the international community.
However, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia have all expressed, or implied, that they will withdraw in 2026 if Israel is permitted to compete, with a decision anticipated in December.
In Hollywood, a letter calling for a boycott of Israeli production companies, festivals, and broadcasters “implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people” has garnered over 4,000 signatures within a week, including prominent figures such as Emma Stone and Javier Bardem.
Tzvika Gottlieb, CEO of the Israeli Film and TV Producers Association, characterized the petition as “profoundly misguided.”
“By targeting us – the creators who give voice to diverse narratives and foster dialogue – these signatories are undermining their own cause and attempting to silence us,” he stated.
Additionally, the Vuelta de Espana cycling race faced repeated disruptions from groups protesting the presence of the Israel-Premier Tech team, leading to a premature conclusion on Saturday and the cancellation of the podium ceremony.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez lauded the protests, while opposition politicians argued that government actions had caused international embarrassment.
In Spain, seven Israeli chess players withdrew from a tournament after being informed that they would not be allowed to compete under their flag.
The Israeli government’s response to what the media has termed a “diplomatic tsunami” has generally been defiant.
Netanyahu accused Spain of a “blatant genocidal threat” after its prime minister stated that his country, lacking nuclear weapons, aircraft carriers, or substantial oil reserves, was unable to independently halt Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
Following Belgium’s announcement of sanctions, Gideon Saar posted on X that it was “regrettable that even when Israel is fighting an existential threat, which is in Europe’s vital interest, there are those who can’t resist their anti-Israeli obsession.”
However, deep concern prevails among those who have represented Israel abroad.
Jeremy Issacharoff, Israel’s ambassador to Germany from 2017 to 2021, stated that he could not recall Israel’s international standing being so “impaired,” but noted that many of the measures were “regrettable” as they were inevitably being perceived as targeting all Israelis.
“Instead of singling out the policies of the government, it’s alienating a lot of Israelis in the middle ground.”
He suggested that certain actions, such as recognizing the state of Palestine, were likely to be counterproductive, as it “gives ammunition to people like Smotrich and Ben Gvir and even enhances their argument to annex [the West Bank].”
Despite his concerns, the former ambassador does not believe Israel’s diplomatic isolation is irreversible.
“We’re not in a South African moment, but we’re in a possible preamble to a South African moment,” he stated.
Others believe more profound change is needed to halt Israel’s slide towards pariah status.
“We have to regain our place in the family of nations,” another former diplomat, Ilan Baruch, stated.
“We need to get back to our senses.”
Baruch, who served as ambassador in South Africa a decade after the end of apartheid, resigned from the diplomatic service in 2011, citing his inability to continue defending Israel’s occupation. Since retiring, he has been a vocal critic of the government and a proponent of a two-state solution.
He believes the recent sanctions are necessary, stating, “That’s how South Africa was pushed to its knees.”
Baruch continued, “I would say that assertive pressure on Israel in any way the Europeans believe is at their disposal should be welcome.”
If necessary, he said, this should include changes to visa regimes and cultural boycotts, adding, “I’m prepared for the pain.”
However, despite the expressions of outrage and discussions of pressure, some seasoned observers doubt that Israel is on the verge of a diplomatic crisis.
“Those who are willing to go down the Spanish route are still outliers,” Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator, stated.
He suggested that efforts to take collective action within the EU – scrapping elements of the association agreement or even, as some have suggested, freezing Israel out of the EU’s Horizon research and innovation program – are unlikely to garner sufficient support, with Germany, Italy, and Hungary among the members resisting such measures.
Israel also continues to enjoy the staunch support of the US, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that Washington’s “relationship with Israel is going to remain strong” as he departed for an official visit.
Levy maintains his belief that Israel’s international isolation is “irreversible” but says the Trump administration’s continued support means it has not yet reached the point where it can change the course of events in Gaza.
“Netanyahu is running out of road,” Levy said. “But we haven’t hit the end of the road yet.”
The Scottish government has committed to supporting the treatment of up to 20 Palestinian youngsters.
BBC Verify’s Merlyn Thomas looks at the latest Israeli strikes on buildings in Gaza City city over the weekend.
At a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Netanyahu said every country had the right “to defend itself beyond its borders”.
Pedro Sánchez says Israel should be treated in the same way as Russia over its war in Ukraine.
Their intervention comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Israel to meet the Israeli PM.
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