Under the headline: “Israel is isolated on the international scene...it sees that its American ally has abandoned it.” The French newspaper Le Figaro said that Israel, surrounded by somewhat hostile forces and engaged in the longest war in its history, is increasingly exposed. To the risk of isolation on the international scene. As if by a snowball effect, the signals intensify and multiply, to the point of sowing anger at the highest levels of the state, and spreading a feeling of incomprehension in Israeli society, where support for the war remains steadfast.

The blame comes mainly from Western allies, starting with the unwavering American friend, whose voice has become more strident, Le Figaro explains. In this context, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visits the region as part of a new tour in the Middle East, his sixth since the beginning of the war, where he continues to work to reach a ceasefire agreement and release the 134 Israeli hostages who are still in the hands of “Hamas.” .

The US Secretary of State visits the region, including Israel, while his country is in the process of changing its position towards the Hebrew state. Initially, US President Joe Biden showed a lot of sympathy for the Israelis, who still suffer from deep scars from the October 7 attack. While Israel was fighting the war, the United States provided vital military support. But gradually, the US President's words became hardened, which led to a distinction between unconditional support for the State of Israel and criticism directed at its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of whom the Democratic US President was not a strong supporter at all, Le Figaro says.

Le Figaro considered that the “flour massacre,” which occurred at the end of last February, after Israeli soldiers opened fire on a crowd gathered around a humanitarian convoy that arrived in Gaza City, which led to the killing of about a hundred people, constituted a turning point. Transformation.

Although the American protests against Benjamin Netanyahu have not yet prevented the delivery of American weapons to Israel, the matter may change, as the American president is now demanding that countries that receive military support from his country commit to respecting international law and allowing humanitarian aid. Israel must comply with this condition by Sunday. This is a very clear way for the United States to force its partner to change the equation in the Gaza Strip.

Food aid is arriving only in small quantities, while the risk of famine is gradually increasing. At the same time, the United States announced a second wave of financial sanctions against Israeli settlers and settlements in the West Bank.

Le Figaro continued to clarify that an increasing number of Western countries are following in the footsteps of the United States of America, at the diplomatic, military and judicial levels. Great Britain, which has already taken action against the settlers, is now threatening Israel with a military embargo imposed by Canada - mainly as a symbolic measure - along with a threat also coming from Italy and the Netherlands.

After France, the entire European Union decided last Monday to impose sanctions on violent settlers, including banning their entry into the Schengen area and freezing their financial assets. Although Hungary, led by Viktor Orban, a close ally of Israel, stood in the way, it ultimately complied with European and American orders.

“Le Figaro” asked, “Is Israel at risk of being ostracized among the nations?” considering that Benjamin Netanyahu, who remains loyal to his image as a captain firmly positioned at the helm of the ship, wants to be reassured. Earlier this week, he made a phone call with Joe Biden, their first in a month, after which his (Netanyahu) office issued a statement explaining: “At the beginning of the conversation, we agreed on the need to eliminate Hamas.” But during the war, it is no secret, there were disagreements between us about the best way to achieve this. The last military target in the Gaza Strip, the city of Rafah, is the subject of controversy. Sometimes we agreed with our friends, sometimes we didn't. But at the end of the day, we have always done what is vital for our safety, and this time we will do that too.”

In the Netanyahu government, voices are rising from all sides against the international community, such as Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who is close to the Prime Minister, who expressed, in a tweet on “X”, his anger against “all these countries that are turning away from Israel.” .

For his part, Foreign Minister Israel Katz believes that any action taken against Israel is tantamount to encouraging Hamas. The leader of the small Jewish Supremacy Party, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also believes that in the face of sanctions against settlers, the only necessary response is the Zionist response, which is to intensify settlement in the West Bank.

Le Figaro continued to say that the Israelis, while convinced that they are fighting a vital battle, feel that the West has misunderstood them. In this small country, everyone is very greatly affected by war, but on the contrary; Few of its citizens measure the depth of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, Le Figaro explains, referring to what journalist Amos Harel wrote in the columns of the progressive newspaper Haaretz: “The Israeli public hardly realizes the depth of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.” The gap of lack of understanding is widening more and more. Former military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin expressed his regret that Israel took upon itself “the role of the Russians” instead of the Ukrainians. About six months after the start of the war, Israel risks defeating an essential front: the communication front. “Le Figaro” concludes.