Netanyahu is wrecking Israel’s relations with its friends

When Benjamin Netanyahu finally leaves politics, the arduous task of healing Israeli society and repairing its relations with the world will begin.

Much has been written and said about how Netanyahu has exploited divisions within Israeli society to gain and retain power for most of the past 30 years, doing so unscrupulously and without hesitation, while everything became permissible in the pursuit of prolonging his time in office. But this is only one of the ways in which he is dragging the country toward the abyss. Another is how his reckless policies have severely damaged Israel’s relations with the international community, including close friends and allies, who are increasingly distancing themselves from him personally and from Israel as long as he remains in power.

Over the past two and a half years, and particularly during the recent war with Iran, Netanyahu has demonstrated that he is, at best, a tactician but a poor strategist. His decisions are marked by strategic short-sightedness, driven largely by his thirst for power and, in recent years, by a desire to avoid the conclusion of his corruption trial.

For decades, beginning with the military success of the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has developed not only the military capabilities of a superpower but, tragically, an accompanying imperial mindset. This shift has accelerated a doctrine that prioritizes imposing solutions over negotiating them, employing disproportionate force in response to threats and attacks, and treating diplomacy as secondary.

The origins of Netanyahu’s approach lie in a mix of defiance, misjudgment and political self-interest

Yossi Mekelberg

It has also fostered a growing indifference to international criticism, which is often dismissed as unfair, baseless or even rooted in antisemitism. The main exception, largely out of fear of facing his wrath, has been Donald Trump, whose positions Netanyahu has tended to heed, including agreeing to ceasefires in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon despite opposition within his coalition.

In the case of the Palestinians, Israel has increasingly ignored or, more accurately, defied international public opinion, both official and popular.

In the West Bank, it continues to entrench the occupation and expand settlements, while failing to curb settler violence. Large parts of the current government are openly advocating annexation of the West Bank and some even suggest extending this to Gaza, effectively shutting the door on a two-state solution. They also do it in direct challenge to the 2024 ruling by the International Court of Justice that declared the occupation illegal, along with the settlements, including those in East Jerusalem, and called for their rapid cessation.

Similarly, Israel under this government has been largely immune to international demands to halt the indiscriminate and disproportionate killing and destruction in Gaza. While much of the world expressed empathy and acknowledged that the Oct. 7 atrocities committed by Hamas warranted a strong response, it did not endorse actions that treated the entire population of more than 2.1 million people as collateral damage or even targets.

In the latest escalation with Iran, aside from the current administration in Washington, much of the international community has opposed the war, viewing it as disastrous both economically and in terms of international law. This does not mean that these countries are oblivious to the Iranian threat, but rather that they oppose military action without exhausting all diplomatic avenues.

A particularly damaging perception for Israel is the belief, whether accurate or not, that, in US-Israel relations, the tail wags the dog, contributing to regional escalation and raising fears of an imminent global recession.

The origins of Netanyahu’s approach lie in a mix of defiance, misjudgment and political self-interest. He has often acted less as a statesman and more as a politician seeking to rally his base and, in doing so, has undermined Israel’s image and credibility among both the public and decision-makers worldwide, including in allied and supportive countries.

Many on the Israeli right and center point to genuine security threats from Iran and its proxies, such as Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and these concerns are not without merit. However, international criticism focuses on how Israel conducts its wars — often in ways seen as violating international law, causing immense civilian suffering, setting unrealistic objectives and lacking a clear political strategy for ending them.

There was a time when Israel, as a young state, was widely viewed as a heroic underdog striving to build a progressive democracy rooted in social-democratic values and seeking peaceful coexistence with its neighbors. That image has largely faded. Today, it is increasingly seen as an occupying power denying Palestinians their right to self-determination and a country that is aggressive toward its neighbors while taking a turn toward authoritarianism.

Frustration with Israel’s policies is no longer confined to the political left but is spreading across the spectrum

Yossi Mekelberg

According to polling by YouGov, favorability toward Israel in several European countries, including Germany, France, Denmark, Italy and Spain, has dropped significantly, with net ratings ranging from minus 44 to minus 55. Some European states have imposed arms embargoes or reduced defense exports in response to the war in Gaza. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni last week announced that Rome would suspend the renewal of its defense agreement with Israel due to the “current situation,” particularly the war with Iran. This shift illustrates that frustration with Israel’s policies is no longer confined to the political left but is spreading across the spectrum.

While European support is important, that of the US is essential, arguably existential, for Israel. Any erosion of this relationship should be deeply concerning for Tel Aviv. Historically, US support has been grounded in shared democratic values and strategic interests, reinforced by domestic political dynamics. Yet no Israeli leader has strained this relationship as much as Netanyahu.

Increasingly, both Democrats and Republicans are questioning the rationale for continued military, financial and political backing when it risks entangling the US in prolonged conflicts, while the current coalition government has declared war on liberal democratic norms.

A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that 60 percent of Americans hold an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 53 percent the previous year, while 59 percent lack confidence in Netanyahu’s handling of global affairs. Although this sentiment is stronger among Democrats, a significant portion (41 percent) of Republicans share it.

These are striking figures, particularly for a leader who has long believed he understands and can influence American politics better than anyone else. The broader trajectory within the US political system suggests growing impatience. Although efforts by Sen. Bernie Sanders to block certain US weapons sales to Israel failed, they received substantial support, far more than would have been conceivable in the past.

This is the international scorched earth Netanyahu is likely to leave behind: strained relations with even Israel’s closest allies, damage to its long-term security and prosperity, and a deeply tarnished global image.

• Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations and an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House.

X: @YMekelberg