As the war in Gaza grinds on, Israel's international isolation appears to be deepening.
Is it approaching a South Africa moment, when a combination of political pressure, economic, sporting, and cultural boycotts helped to force Pretoria to abandon apartheid?
Or can the right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu weather the diplomatic storm, leaving Israel free to pursue its goals in Gaza and the occupied West Bank without causing permanent damage to its international standing?
Two former prime ministers, Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert, have already accused Netanyahu of turning Israel into an international pariah.
Thanks to a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, the number of countries Netanyahu can travel to without the risk of being arrested has shrunk dramatically.
At the UN, several countries, including Britain, France, Australia, Belgium, and Canada, have expressed intentions to recognize Palestine as a state next week.
Gulf countries, reacting with fury to an Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar, have convened in Doha to discuss a unified response, with some calling for countries that maintain relations with Israel to reconsider their stance.
As images of starvation emerge from Gaza and escalating military actions loom, European governments are increasingly voicing displeasure beyond mere statements.
Even Netanyahu admitted that Israel is facing a kind of economic isolation on the world stage.
Speaking at a finance ministry conference in Jerusalem, he attributed the isolation to negative publicity abroad and urged the need for influence operations in traditional and social media.
Actions taken by other countries further illustrate this shift. Belgium has announced sanctions including a review of procurement policies with Israeli firms and restrictions on consular assistance to Belgians living in settlements. Spain also declared its intention to solidify existing arms embargoes and impose entry bans on individuals accused of war crimes in Gaza.
Simultaneously, the EU, Israel's largest trading partner, plans sanctions against far-right ministers and discussions on modifying its association agreement with Israel.
There are early signs of cultural and sporting boycotts gaining traction; countries like Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands have hinted at withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026 should Israel be allowed to participate.
A recent letter in Hollywood calling for a boycott of Israeli productions has garnered over 4,000 signatures from prominent figures, further illustrating shifts in perception.
Although the Israeli government has reacted defiantly, expressing outrage over measures imposed by countries like Spain and Belgium, several commentators suggest this may mark an irreversible descent into diplomatic isolation.
Jeremy Issacharoff, a former Israeli ambassador, emphasized the unprecedented impairment of Israel's international standing but believes the situation is not yet beyond redemption. We're not in a South African moment, but we're in a possible preamble to a South African moment, he stated.
With former diplomats urging decisive actions to restore Israel's position within the global community, the fate of its international standing hangs on the choices made in the coming months.
