The Gaza Curse: Is the “King of Israel” Losing His Western Allies?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—wanted by the International Criminal Court—appears to have entered a new stage of arrogance, colliding openly with all who cross his path. The right-wing politician, who boasted of reshaping the Middle East, now sees the entire world as his battlefield. This time, however, his confrontations have turned against Israel’s own historic allies in the West—the very powers that created his state and upheld its prestige.

Cracks in Israel’s Western Front

In recent months, Israel’s ties with its Western partners—particularly in Europe and Australia—have fractured over two issues: the rising momentum to recognise the State of Palestine, and Netanyahu’s refusal to halt his genocidal war in Gaza.

In France, Netanyahu accused President Emmanuel Macron of “feeding antisemitism” and weakening Israel by preparing to recognise Palestine this September. The French presidency responded with a sharp statement condemning his remarks as “base and misleading,” affirming that protecting French Jews has nothing to do with supporting the occupation. Paris also voiced disapproval of Israel’s war crimes in Gaza, its illegal settlements, and blocked arms transfers.
In New Zealand, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon declared that Netanyahu’s policies show he has “lost his mind,” citing the unbearable humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined the recognition wave, prompting Netanyahu to brand him a “traitor” and “weak.” Canberra’s Interior Minister hit back: “Strength is not measured by how many you bomb or starve.” She stressed that taking a moral stance on Gaza’s tragedy defines Australia’s foreign policy today—even at the cost of its historic friendship with Israel.

The Historical Roots of the Alliance

To understand today’s ruptures, one must revisit the historic alliance between Israel and the West.

Foundational Era (1948–1967): Europe, haunted by guilt over the Holocaust, recognised Israel as a moral duty. The U.S. was the first to recognise the Zionist state—minutes after its declaration—cementing Israel’s security as a Western “vital interest.”
Post-1967 Shift: Israel’s swift victory in the Six-Day War transformed it into a regional military power. Washington deepened ties, seeing Israel as a Cold War asset against Soviet influence. Sympathy gave way to strategic partnership.
Subsequent Decades: U.S. presidents from Carter to Clinton linked aid to the peace process, but support remained unwavering. Europe endorsed a two-state solution but avoided official recognition of Palestine, fearing damage to ties with Israel and pushback from powerful Zionist lobbies.

How Israel Preserved Its Network of Western Allies

Israel secured its Western network through several strategies:

Security Entrenchment: Joint training, intelligence sharing, and advanced military technology framed Israel as an “indispensable” partner against global threats.
Reframing the Conflict as “Terrorism”: Especially post-9/11, Israel depicted Palestinian resistance as part of “global Islamic extremism,” winning Western sympathy.
Weaponising Antisemitism: Criticism of Israeli crimes was reframed as antisemitism, silencing many opponents.
Lobbying Power: Groups like AIPAC entrenched Israel’s influence over political elites and media narratives, ensuring continuous aid and diplomatic cover.

What Has Changed?

The Gaza war (2023–2025) shattered old dynamics:

Unprecedented Atrocities: Civilian massacres and famine conditions forced the global conversation to adopt terms like “genocide” and “starvation.”
Mass Mobilisation: Millions filled Western streets in support of Palestine, pressuring governments.
A New Generation of Leaders: Macron, Albanese, and Luxon are less bound by Holocaust guilt. Their voters see Israel not as a victim, but as a perpetrator of war crimes.
Netanyahu’s Confrontational Style: Once effective, his tactic of branding criticism as antisemitism is now seen as crude political blackmail in Western capitals.

Five Drivers of Netanyahu’s Rift with the West

Global Outrage over Gaza: Civilian death tolls and famine forced leaders to respond to domestic pressure.
Netanyahu’s “Antisemitism” Card Backfires: Branding allies as antisemites only hardened opposition.
The Symbolism of Recognising Palestine: Western states now see recognition as a necessary political reset. Netanyahu fears it will snowball into sanctions and isolation.
Netanyahu’s Domestic Troubles: Corruption cases and criticism over October 7 push him to seek external enemies to project strength.
A Divided Western Camp: While the U.S. and UK remain staunch, France, Australia, and New Zealand see Israel as a political liability.

Is the Western–Israeli Alliance Breaking?

Not entirely—but the relationship is changing:

Military-Security: Still solid with the U.S., UK, and Germany.
Political-Diplomatic: Now shaky in Europe and Oceania, with leaders openly criticising Netanyahu.
Moral-Narrative: Israel is losing its monopoly on victimhood; Gaza’s images dominate the world’s conscience.
Economic: Grassroots boycotts and arms-embargo campaigns are gaining momentum, posing future risks.

Future Scenarios

Incremental Recognition of Palestine: Western states symbolically recognise Palestine to pressure Israel.
Functional vs. Emotional Alliance: Military ties remain, but political cover weakens.
U.S. Mediation: Washington may eventually push for a “less extreme” Israeli government to stabilise alliances.
New International Bloc: France, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Spain could spearhead a coalition pressuring Israel diplomatically.

Strategic Conclusion

The current rifts do not spell the end of the Western–Israeli alliance, but they expose its first real fractures in decades. Some Western capitals have shifted from “supportive partners” to “critical allies.” The Gaza war forced a moral reckoning: for the first time since 1948, Israel is becoming a political and ethical burden on the West.

Netanyahu’s defiance may preserve his image at home, but abroad, he is eroding Israel’s privileged status as the West’s “spoiled child.” What emerges is a new equation—alliances built on accountability, not blind loyalty—and in this shift, Palestine gains a new momentum.