International newspapers and magazines dealt with the political isolation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in light of the escalation of internal and external pressures due to the continuation of the war on the Gaza Strip, and the increasing criticism of his political and security performance, in conjunction with the deepening of his crisis with the Israeli judiciary and its international partners.
In an analysis published by the French newspaper Liberation, the newspaper saw that Netanyahu is in a “war with everyone”, noting that his appointment to David Zaini as head of the Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet) represents a new challenge for the Supreme Court, and a continuation of his endeavors to undermine the foundations of democracy in Israel motivated by the agenda of his extreme right -wing government.
The analysis affirmed that Netanyahu is not satisfied with leading a tragic destruction campaign against the Gaza Strip under the slogan of eliminating the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), but also intentionally – according to the newspaper – the use of the war is a cover to deepen the confrontation with judicial institutions and liquidate political accounts within Israel.
For its part, Foreign Policy Magazine said that Netanyahu has become a political trapped in the corner because of his intransigence in continuing the war on Gaza, despite increasing internal demands to stop it to return the hostages, and quoted the brother of an Israeli soldier who was walking to Hamas that the majority of Israelis want to end the war in exchange for the release of the prisoners.
The magazine added that the Israeli government ignores the desire of the street, although ending the war is the right choice, whether for the hostages and their families or the entire Israeli people, noting that Netanyahu continues to ignore the voices calling by reviewing his options.
Tense
In a related context, the American Politico newspaper reported that the relationship between US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu is witnessing tensions in recent weeks, as a result of the variation of views on multiple files in the Middle East, which reflects an increasing apathy in the traditional support that Netanyahu has had from the Republican movement.
The newspaper quoted former and current US officials that some of the Staff of the Trump administration feel frustrated by Netanyahu’s behavior towards the United States and his ignorance of common interests, although describing the relationship as “cut” may be exaggerated, but the current tension is an indication of a change in the American political mood.
Under the title “Is International Humanitarian Law ineffective?”, An opinion article in the Swiss newspaper Looton asked about the fate of international legal standards in light of the scenes of destruction in Gaza and Ukraine, considering that repeated violations of international law does not mean its demise, but rather imposes the need to activate accounting and deterrence tools.
The article explained that the Armed Conflict Law was created to penetrate, but it also includes mechanisms for response, starting from political condemnation and ending with legal penalties, indicating that the real challenge lies in application, not in the texts, and that hope is still based on restoring its effectiveness.
In the NATO file (NATO), the New York Times revealed that some European countries have indirectly responded to Trump’s invitation to increase defense spending, as serious discussions in the alliance began regarding raising the percentage of military spending to 3.5% of gross domestic product, in addition to another 1.5% for unconventional efforts by 2032.
The newspaper pointed out that Trump’s call, which was initially rejected, is partly acceptable in light of the escalating security challenges, and this reflects a shift in the European approach to collective defense within the alliance.
