Democracy Dies in Darkness

Israel’s isolation deepens on the world stage

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself increasingly isolated on the world stage amid various legal challenges and fraying global opinion.

Analysis by
Columnist
May 23, 2024 at 9:25 p.m. EDT
7 min

You’re reading an excerpt from the Today’s WorldView newsletter. Sign up to get the rest free, including news from around the globe and interesting ideas and opinions to know, sent to your inbox on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government are finding themselves increasingly boxed into a corner. Netanyahu is waging a devastating war in the Gaza Strip that has riled global public opinion and placed him and his government before two of the world’s most significant courts. The International Court of Justice is expected to deliver a ruling Friday on a request to order Israel to cease military operations in Gaza, including its offensive on the southernmost city of Rafah. Israeli officials snarled defiance ahead of the ruling, vowing to keep on their fight, but the legal pressure is mounting as the ICJ weighs a case brought by South Africa that accuses Israel of the crime of genocide.