A Pariah State

With so many terrible things transpiring in today's world, it is often hard to feel any hope. Wars and injustices abound, and we are met daily with images of death, destruction and mutilation. The average person likely feels powerless to do anything about it. Indeed, often, as a temporary balm, we embrace the distractions provided by the machinations of the fascist nation we share a common border with. But distractions can take us only so far.

Other parts of the world, however, are not so easily and eagerly diverted. The good news, if we can call it that, is that internationally, thanks to the genocide they are conducting, Israel is feeling increasingly isolated.

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?

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, [the latter has confirmed it will do so later this month] have said they are planning to recognise Palestine as a state next week.

Increasingly, nations are finding it very hard to ignore the daily slaughter by Israel of Gazan men, women and children.

... more and more European governments are showing their displeasure in ways that go beyond mere statements.

At the start of the month, Belgium announced a series of sanctions, including a ban on imports from illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a review of procurement policies with Israeli companies and restrictions on consular assistance to Belgians living in settlements.

Other countries, including Britain and France, had already taken similar steps.

A week after Belgium's move, Spain announced its own measures, turning an existing de facto arms embargo into law, announcing a partial import ban, barring entry to Spanish territory for anyone involved in genocide or war crimes in Gaza, and prohibiting Israel-bound ships and aircraft carrying weapons from docking at Spanish ports or entering its airspace.

And additional measures ensure that Israel has or is becoming a pariah nation. 

In August, Norway's vast $2tn (1.7tn euros; £1.6tn) sovereign wealth fund announced it would start divesting from companies listed in Israel. By the middle of the month, 23 companies had been removed and finance minister Jens Stoltenberg said more could follow. 

Meanwhile, the EU, Israel's largest trading partner, plans to sanction far-right ministers and partly suspend trade elements of its association agreement with Israel.

The EU is being called upon to take stern measures as well.

... 314 former European diplomats and officials wrote to von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas calling for tougher measures, including a full suspension of the [trade] association agreement.

Drawing comparisons with the sanctions that broke the back of South Africa's apartheid in the 90s, former diplomat Ilan Baruch believes strong sanctions are the only way to curb Israel's madness. He

resigned from the diplomatic service in 2011, saying he was no longer able to defend Israel's occupation. Since retiring, he's been a vocal critic of the government and supporter of a two-state solution. 

He believes recent sanctions are necessary, saying: "That's how South Africa was pushed to its knees."

Of course, the outlier in all of this is Amerika, which continues its unflinching support of what has become a rogue nation.  A good part of that comes from its historical support for what was once a nation that fought valiantly for its survival. Today, I suspect it goes beyond that, given Herr Trump's admiration for leaders who employ strongarm tactics. 

One can only hope that in their next election, israel will deprive Netanyahu of that status so that he will finally, in much overdue fashion, face real justice.