Netanyahu Admits Israel’s International Isolation
Muslim minorities in Europe have made their voices heard, they are pressuring their governments on the Gaza issue, and they reject Zionism.
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted on Monday that Israel is facing political isolation on the international stage, blaming some European Muslim minorities and economic restrictions as part of the reason.
Speaking at the Accountant General’s Conference at the Ministry of Finance in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said: “We will collide with barriers in global trade, as today’s world is highly united. Muslim minorities in Europe have made their voices heard, they are pressuring their governments on the Gaza issue, and they reject Zionism.”
Concerns Over Economy and Arms Imports
Netanyahu added that these pressures are affecting Israel’s ability to import weapon parts and threaten the Israeli economy with serious difficulties, stressing that changing this reality would be extremely difficult.
He also pointed to the “digital revolution” as an additional reason for Israel’s isolation, explaining that the state’s adversaries are exploiting modern technology.
He noted that China and Qatar have invested heavily in artificial intelligence, which gives them greater influence than traditional media, which at times aligns with international minorities. He added: “This reality places us in isolation, and we will have to fight it.”
Call for Self-Sufficiency
Netanyahu spoke about the need to adapt to a self-sufficient economy, saying:
“I hate this idea, as I am a supporter of the free market and have worked to strengthen it in Israel, but we may find ourselves forced to develop the arms industry domestically, to be stronger both economically and militarily — as if to become Athens and Sparta at the same time. We have no choice but to face attempts at isolation in the coming years.”
Opposition Leaders Respond
For his part, opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu’s remarks, describing them as “insane”:
“Isolation is not destiny, but the result of the government’s wrong policies, which have turned Israel into a third-world country without any attempt to change the situation. Israel can be restored to be a successful state with a prosperous economy.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Party leader Yair Golan considered Netanyahu’s statements a bad message to citizens, saying:
“Netanyahu congratulates Israelis on the occasion of the Jewish New Year by saying: in order to maintain my position, I need eternal war and isolation. You are sacrificing the state, the economy, and the future of your children. But our response will be: this year we will change the situation and save Israel.” (PW)