The world is turning on Israel

About this video

• Video Title: The world is turning on Israel
• Channel: Max Fisher
• Speakers: Max Fisher
• Duration: 00:16:37

Overview

This video explores the shifting international stance on Israel, illustrating how countries that have historically supported Israel are now beginning to distance themselves. It analyzes the reasons behind this change, highlighting events, historical contexts, and evolving public opinion that contribute to this global pivot.

Key takeaways

• Shifting Alliances: A map from 2011 shows countries supporting Israel in a UN vote, contrasted with a recent UN vote where many of these same nations abstained or voted against.
• European Pivot: Several European countries, including Italy, Denmark, Poland, Portugal, Estonia, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia, have taken steps to distance themselves from Israel, such as suspending defense agreements or calling for sanctions. France has even implemented an arms embargo.
• US Political Shift: A significant indicator of changing US sentiment is a recent Senate resolution to block US arms sales to Israel, which received 40 votes, signifying a notable portion of the American political system is willing to turn against Israel.
• Erosion of "Like-Minded Democracy" Perception: Historically, Western support for Israel was partly based on the perception of it being a like-minded democracy. However, ongoing issues like settlements and the treatment of Arabs have eroded this perception, particularly among younger generations.
• Israel's Autonomy Strategy: Israel has been preparing for potential loss of Western support by building domestic weapon systems, making peace with some regional neighbors, and fostering a more nationalistic domestic population less concerned with international opinion.
• Emergence of New Allies: Israel has sought new alliances with right-wing, illiberal democracies like India, Brazil, and Hungary, whose leaders are drawn to Israel's perceived unapologetic militarism and ethno-nationalism. However, political shifts in Brazil and Hungary are weakening these alliances.
• Generational Divide: Public opinion in the US shows a stark generational divide, with younger Americans increasingly negative towards Israel, while older generations remain more supportive, indicating a long-term trend of declining support.
• Historical Context and Memory: Support for Israel is partly rooted in historical events (Holocaust, Arab-Israeli wars). As these events fade into memory and current Israeli actions become more prominent, the historical scaffolding for unwavering support weakens.