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 said they are planning to recognize Palestine as a state next week.
And Gulf countries, reacting with fury to the recent Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar, have been meeting to discuss a unified response.
As alarming images of starvation emerge from Gaza and the Israeli military prepares for a significant offensive, more European governments are expressing their displeasure in ways that transcend mere statements.
Even Netanyahu admitted on Monday that Israel is facing a kind of economic isolation on the global stage.
Speaking at a finance ministry conference in Jerusalem, he blamed this on negative publicity abroad, advocating for investments in influence operations to counteract this narrative.
Bills banning imports from illegal settlements and other sanctions have emerged, with countries like Belgium leading the efforts. Spain has announced similar measures, compounding Israel's diplomatic challenges.
Israel's combative foreign minister lambasted these actions, accusing Spain of advancing antisemitic policies.
In August, Norway's sovereign wealth fund disclosed it would begin divesting from companies based in Israel, an ongoing reversal of Israel’s diplomatic fortunes.
Despite these pressures, Israel maintains solid support from the United States, which could mitigate some of the isolating effects in the short term. Observers remain divided on whether Israel's current trajectory is truly comparable to South Africa's historic isolation.
Former diplomats express concern that continued boycotts could alienate moderate Israelis and deepen divides, yet they also call for pressure on the Israeli government as a necessary step towards a resolution in the region.
This evolving situation presents a critical juncture for Israel—one that could redefine its international relations and image on the world stage if boycotts and diplomatic isolation continue to intensify.
