With global anger mounting over the nearly two-year war in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned yesterday that Israel is facing a “kind of isolation” that could last for years, and has no choice but to stand on its own.
Yesterday, Netanyahu told a finance ministry conference that Israel’s economy would need to adapt to “autarkic characteristics” – becoming more self-sufficient and less reliant on external trade.
Netanyahu’s statements are a rare acknowledgement of the massive international backlash Israel faces as it escalates its war in Gaza.
He has refused to change course, despite warnings from the United Nations and others that a looming assault on Gaza City will lead to more death and destruction, and amid mounting accusations that Israel is committing genocide in the enclave, which Israel strongly denies.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid slammed Netanyahu in response, dubbing his statement that Israel is entering isolation as “crazy.”
“Isolation is not fate; it is the result of Netanyahu’s flawed and failed policy,” Lapid said.
