Ankara: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under intense scrutiny as analysts and former officials criticize his international strategies, accusing him of isolating Israel and inadvertently facilitating global recognition of Palestinian statehood. His persistent refusal to end the Gaza conflict has been described by some as inadvertently creating a Palestinian state through strategic missteps.
According to Anadolu Agency, the criticism intensified following formal recognition of Palestine by countries including Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, raising the number of UN member states recognizing Palestine to 153. This development is being referred to in Israel as a 'political tsunami,' with additional European nations such as France, Luxembourg, Malta, and Belgium anticipated to follow suit.
Netanyahu has dismissed these recognitions, asserting that "a Palestinian state will never be established." Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the annexation of the occupied West Bank, a stance that many Israelis believe has left the nation perilously isolated.
Nir Kivens, a commentator for the Hebrew outlet Walla, criticized Netanyahu's administration for squandering Israel's international standing since October 2023. He remarked that the recognition serves as a reward for Hamas, but attributed the fault to Netanyahu's government, which he claimed had created this predicament. Kivens warned against annexing the West Bank, predicting it would transform Israel into an apartheid state and potentially align Washington with European leaders supporting Palestinian statehood.
Limor Livnat, a former communications minister from Netanyahu's Likud Party, expressed in Yedioth Ahronoth that Netanyahu 'made every mistake possible,' particularly by rejecting calls to end the war and secure the release of Israeli captives. She noted that while the world initially supported Israel on October 7, the protracted conflict allowed Hamas to mount a successful propaganda campaign, leaving Israel politically, culturally, and sportingly isolated. Livnat added that global perceptions have shifted due to images of Gaza's devastation, with Israel being viewed as oppressive.
Political analyst Moria Asraf from Israel's Channel 13 highlighted that the recent recognitions indicate a weakening of Israel's ties with Western allies and deepening isolation. She mentioned that Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly and meet US President Donald Trump, where responses such as annexation or closing foreign consulates may be discussed. Asraf criticized the government's reliance on annexation rhetoric, suggesting it exacerbates tensions.
Netanyahu himself acknowledged Israel's increasing isolation, telling Army Radio that the country must brace for self-sufficiency. Since October 7, 2023, the ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 65,300 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children, alongside significant displacement and a humanitarian crisis, as reported by Anadolu Agency.